The oculomotor role of the pontine nuclei and the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis.
Cerebral cortex and the cerebellum interact closely in order to facilitate spatial orientation and the generation of motor behavior, including eye movements. This interaction is based on a massive projection system that allows the exchange of signals between the two cortices. This cerebro-cerebellar communication system includes several intercalated brain stem nuclei, whose eminent role in the organization of oculomotor behavior has only recently become apparent. This review focuses on the two major nuclei of this group taking a precerebellar position, the pontine nuclei and the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis, both intimately involved in the visual guidance of eye movements.
Thier
Peter
P
Department of Cognitive Neurology, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. thier@uni-tuebingen.de
Möck
Martin
M
D000818:Animals; D002525:Cerebellar Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D000882:Haplorhini; D006801:Humans; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D011149:Pons / Q000502:physiology*; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology; D011698:Pursuit, Smooth / Q000502:physiology; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology
D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid