Neuromuscular consequences of reflexive covert orienting.
Visual stimulus presentation activates the oculomotor network without requiring a gaze shift. Here, we demonstrate that primate neck muscles are recruited during such reflexive covert orienting in a manner that parallels activity recorded from the superior colliculus (SC). Our results indicate the presence of a brainstem circuit whereby reflexive covert orienting is prevented from shifting gaze, but recruits neck muscles, predicting that similarities between SC and neck muscle activity should extend to other cognitive processes that are known to influence SC activity.
Corneil
Brian D
BD
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Group on Action and Perception, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, London, Ontario, Canada. bcorneil@uwo.ca
Munoz
Douglas P
DP
Chapman
Brendan B
BB
Admans
Tania
T
Cushing
Sharon L
SL
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology; D003463:Cues; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D012372:ROC Curve; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012438:Saccades / Q000502:physiology*; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000166:cytology*; D013997:Time Factors