Cross-modal synthesis in the midbrain depends on input from cortex

It is shown that some of the associative functions of cortex are accomplished via its target neurons in the midbrain, and that removal of corticotectal influences can eliminate multisensory integration in superior colliculus neurons while leaving their responses to unimodal cues intact.

Abstract

1. The synthesis of information from different sensory modalities in the superior colliculus is an important precursor of attentive and orientation behavior. 2. This integration of multisensory information is critically dependent on inputs from a small area of association cortex, the anterior ectosylvian sulcus. Removal of these corticotectal influences can have a remarkably specific effect: it can eliminate multisensory integration in superior colliculus neurons while leaving their responses to unimodal cues intact. 3. Apparently, some of the associative functions of cortex are accomplished via its target neurons in the midbrain.