title: An integrative role for the superior colliculus in selecting targets for movements.
abstract: A fundamental goal of systems neuroscience is to understand the neural mechanisms underlying decision making. The midbrain superior colliculus (SC) is known to be central to the selection of one among many potential spatial targets for movements, which represents an important form of decision making that is tractable to rigorous experimental investigation. In this review, we first discuss data from mammalian models-including primates, cats, and rodents-that inform our understanding of how neural activity in the SC underlies the selection of targets for movements. We then examine the anatomy and physiology of inputs to the SC from three key regions that are themselves implicated in motor decisions-the basal ganglia, parabrachial region, and neocortex-and discuss how they may influence SC activity related to target selection. Finally, we discuss the potential for methodological advances to further our understanding of the neural bases of target selection. Our overarching goal is to synthesize what is known about how the SC and its inputs act together to mediate the selection of targets for movements, to highlight open questions about this process, and to spur future studies addressing these questions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado; Neuroscience Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado; and.
authors.forename: Andrew B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado; Neuroscience Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado; and.
authors.forename: Mario J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lintz
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado;
authors.forename: Jamie D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Costabile
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado;
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0541-2894
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Stubblefield
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado; Neuroscience Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado; and gidon.felsen@ucdenver.edu.
authors.forename: Gidon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Felsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: decision making; laterodorsal tegmental nucleus; motor planning; pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus; substantia nigra