title: A cortical rein on the tectum's gain.
abstract: The superior colliculus, or tectum, is a key sensorimotor structure that long predates the cortex. In this issue of Neuron, Zhao et al. (2014) show that the visual cortex controls the tectum's gain precisely and retinotopically, without otherwise altering its operations.
authors.affiliation: University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK. Electronic address: sylvia.schroeder@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.affiliation: University College London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carandini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000502:physiology*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology*