2009/12/01 by Douglas R. Wylie, Cristián Gutiérrez‐Ibáñez, Janelle M.P. Pakan +1 · 2 citations
Neuroscience · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Visual perception and processing mechanisms #Retinal Development and Disorders #Neural dynamics and brain function #Retinotopy #Superior colliculus #Neuroscience #Tectum #Optic tectum #Superior Colliculi #Visual system #Visual cortex #Visual processing #Biology #Extrastriate cortex #Retina #Midbrain #Central nervous system #Perception
paper · doi:10.1037/a0016826
openalex publication_date 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06
Over the past few decades there has been a massive amount of research on the geniculo-striate visual system in primates. However, studies of the avian visual system have provided a rich source of data contributing to our understanding of visual processing. In this paper we review the connectivity and function of the optic tectum (homolog of the superior colliculus) in birds. We highlight the retinotopic projections that the optic tectum has with the isthmal nuclei, and the functional topographic projections that the optic tectum has with the nucleus rotundus and entopallium (homologs of the pulvinar and extrastriate cortex, respectively) where retinotopy has been sacrificed. This work has been critical in our understanding of basic visual processes including attention, parallel processing, and the binding problem.