title: Bilateral impact of unilateral visual cortex lesions on the superior colliculus.
abstract: We examined the functional impact of a long-standing, unilateral primary visual cortex lesion on the superior colliculus (SC) using radiolabeled 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) as a marker of neural activity. In accord with known corticotectal connectivity and functional influence, 2DG uptake in the superficial layers of the ipsilesional SC was decreased. We also found a decrease in the superficial layers of the contralesional SC. These data suggest that modifications in activity in one SC can have a substantial influence on activity in its contralateral partner, and that processing in one visual hemifield does not occur independently of processing of signals in the opposite hemifield. The effects are not mediated by the contralateral hemisphere but are probably mediated by intercollicular circuitry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, W-702, Boston University School of Medicine, 700 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA. rushmore@bu.edu
authors.forename: R Jarrett
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Rushmore
authors.forename: Bertram R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Payne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000633:toxicity; D001345:Autoradiography; D002415:Cats; D003847:Deoxyglucose / Q000633:toxicity; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000502:physiology; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000502:physiology*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000963:Antimetabolites; D003847:Deoxyglucose