A collicular visual cortex: Neocortical space for an ancient midbrain visual structure

Abstract

Another primary visual cortex Most functional studies in the visual system have focused on the cortical representation of the geniculo-striate pathway that links the retina to the cortex. The parallel collicular pathway is believed to sparsely project throughout the visual cortex and have a modulatory role on cortical responses to visual stimuli. Beltramo and Scanziani found a visual cortical area that is entirely dedicated to the superior colliculus. This area can discriminate moving visual stimuli that the “classical” primary visual cortex cannot. Thus, the superior colliculus, a phylogenetically ancient structure, has its own projection in neocortex that provides this area with exquisite feature-detection abilities not found in the classical primary visual cortex. Science , this issue p. 64