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The Visual System from Genesis to Maturity pp 173–186Cite as

Birkhäuser

Evidence for Commissural Interactions in the Nuclei of the Optic Tract of the Opossum

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Abstract

The nucleus of the optic tract (NOT) is composed of sparse cells dispersed in the brachium of the superior colliculus at the dorsal surface of the pretectum. Several authors have adduced evidence concerning its involvement in the horizontal optokinetic reflex. The evidence has been derived from stimulation (Collewijn, 1975a; Schiff et al., 1988) and lesion studies (Cazin et al., 1980a; Collewijn, 1975a; Kato et al., 1986; Schiff et al., 1990). Electrophysiological recordings in the NOT of mammals also corroborate this idea (rabbit: Collewijn, 1975b; rat: Cazin et al., 1980b; cat: Hoffmann and Schoppmann, 1981; opossum: Volchan et al., 1989; monkey: Hoffmann et al., 1988; ferret: Klauer et al., 1990). Recordings in the NOT of these species have yielded a high percentage of directionally selective units. The common feature of these units is their preference for stimulus movement toward the recording side (ipsiversive) as opposed to the opposite side (contraversive), the nonpreferred direction. Besides being activated through the contralateral eye, the units of the NOT can also be driven by the ipsilateral eye in all the above-cited mammals, except for the rabbit (Collewijn, 1975b).

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Authors
  1. Eliane Volchan
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  2. Antônio Pereira Jr.
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  3. Raymundo Francisco Bernardes
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  4. Carlos Eduardo Rocha-Miranda
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Neurobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941, Rio de Janeiro, R.J., Brazil

    Roberto Lent

  2. Centro de Ciências de Saúde, Bloco G Cidade Universitária, 21941, Rio de Janeiro, R.J., Brazil

    Roberto Lent

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© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Volchan, E., Pereira, A., Bernardes, R.F., Rocha-Miranda, C.E. (1992). Evidence for Commissural Interactions in the Nuclei of the Optic Tract of the Opossum. In: Lent, R. (eds) The Visual System from Genesis to Maturity. Birkhäuser, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-6726-8_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-6726-8_13

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-6728-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-6726-8

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