Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Orienting behavior in hamsters with lesions of superior colliculus, pretectum, and visual cortex

  • Published:
Experimental Brain Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

We examined cortical and subcortical mediation of visual locomotor orienting function by comparing the behavior of hamsters with discrete bilateral lesions affecting the pretectum, superior colliculus (SC), or visual cortex (VC). Orienting and approach to stationary targets was evaluated by measuring the accuracy of hamsters' approaches to small black apertures, located at eye level along the wall of a circular white arena. Hamsters with bilateral ablation of the visual cortex were slightly impaired for approaches to central field targets, whereas those with ibotenic acid lesions of the pretectum (which spares fibers of passage and thus leaves tectal afferents intact) were totally unimpaired. Hamsters with transection of the brachium of SC (BSC) at the prectectal-SC (PT-SC) border were severely impaired in their ability to approach stationary targets in central and peripheral fields. Thus, we did not detect any of the central field sparing that has been reported by others for rodents with similar lesions. Several possible reasons for the disparity between our results and those of others are discussed. Overall, our results indicate that in hamsters the SC is essential for normal visually guided approach to dark, stationary targets throughout the visual field. Further, our results and qualitative observations indicate that the approach errors are most likely due to deficits of visuomotor integration rather than to a lack of visual scanning.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beckstead RM, Frankfurter A (1983) A direct projection from the retina to the intermediate gray layer of the superior colliculus demonstrated by anterograde transport of horseradish peroxidase in monkey, cat and rat. Exp Brain Res 52:261–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Cadusseau J, Roger M (1985) Afferent projections to the superior colliculus in the rat, with special attention to the deep layers. J Hirnforsch 26:667–681

    Google Scholar 

  • Carman LS, Schneider GE (1992) Spared orienting functions of hamsters with neonatal lesions of the superior colliculus are mediated by aberrant midbrain projections. Exp Brain Res (in press)

  • Casagrande VA, Diamond IT (1974) Ablation study of the superior colliculus in the tree shrew. J Comp Neurol 156:207–237

    Google Scholar 

  • Chalupa LM, Rhoades RW (1977) Responses of visual, somatosensory and auditory neurons in the golden hamster's superior colliculus. J Physiol (Lond) 270:595–626

    Google Scholar 

  • Dean P, Key C (1981) Spatial deficits on radial maze after large tectal lesions in rats: possible role of impaired scanning. Behav Neural Biol 32:170–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Dean P, Pope SG (1981) Visual discrimination learning in rats with lesions of the superior colliculus: door-push and approach errors in modified jumping stand. Quart J Exp Psychol 33B:141–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Dean P, Redgrave P (1984a) The superior colliculus and visual neglect in rat and hamster. I. Behavioral Evidence. Brain Res Rev 8:129–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Dean P, Redgrave P (1984b) The superior colliculus and visual neglect in rat and hamster. II. Possible mechanisms. Brain Res Rev 8:143–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Fink RP, Heimer L (1967) Two methods for selective silver impregnation of degenerating axons and their synaptic endings in the central nervous system. Brain Res 4:369–374

    Google Scholar 

  • Finlay BL, Schneps SE, Wilson KG, Schneider GE (1978) Topography of visual and somatosensory projections to the superior colliculus of the golden hamster. Brain Res 142:223–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Finlay BL, Wilson KG, Schneider GE (1979) Anomalous ipsilateral retinotectal projections in syrian hamsters with early lesions: topography and functional capacity. J Comp Neurol 183:721–740

    Google Scholar 

  • Finlay BL, Marder K, Cordon D (1980a) Aquisition of visuomotor behavior after neonatal tectal lesions in the hamster: the role of visual experience. J Comp Physiol Psych 94:506–518

    Google Scholar 

  • Finlay BL, Sengelaub DR, Berg AT, Cairns SJ (1980b) A neuroethological approach to hamster vision. Behav Brain Res 1:479–496

    Google Scholar 

  • Foreman N (1983) Distractibility following simultaneous bilateral lesions of the superior colliculus or medial frontal cortex of the rat. Behav Brain Res 8:177–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodale MA (1983) Neural mechanisms of visual orientation in rodents: targets versus places. In: Hein A, Jennerod M (eds) Spatially oriented behavior. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 35–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodale MA, Milner AD (1982) Fractionating orientation behavior in rodents. In: Ingle DJ, Goodale MA, Mansfield RJW (eds) Analysis of visual behavior. MIT Press, Cambridge, pp 267–299

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodale MA, Murison RCC (1975) The effects of lesions of the superior colliculus on locomotor orienting and the orienting reflex in the rat. Brain Res 88:243–261

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodale MA, Foreman NP, Milner AD (1978) Visual orientation in the rat: a dissociation of deficits following cortical and collicular lesions. Exp Brain Res 31:445–457

    Google Scholar 

  • Heywood CA, Cowey A (1985) A comparison of the effects of superior colliculus ablation in infant and adult rats. Exp Brain Res 59:302–312

    Google Scholar 

  • Heywood CA, Cowey A (1986) The nature of the visual discrimination impairment after neonatal or adult ablation of superior colliculi in rats. Exp Brain Res 61:403–412

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingle DJ (1977) Detection of stationary objects by frogs (Rana pipiens) after ablation of optic tectum. J Comp Physiol Psychol 6:1359–1364

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingle DJ (1982) Organization of visuomotor behaviors in vertebrates. In: Ingle DJ, Goodale MA, Mansfield RJW (eds) Analysis of visual behavior. MIT Press, Cambridge, pp 67–109

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawamura S, Sprague JM, Niimi K (1974) Corticofugal projections from the visual cortices to the thalamus, pretectum, and superior colliculus in the cat. J Comp neurol 158:339–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohler C, Schwarcz R (1983) Comparison of ibotenate and kainate neurotoxicity in rat brain: a histological study. Neurosci 8:819–835

    Google Scholar 

  • Lent R (1982) The organization of subcortical projections of the hamster's visual cortex. J Comp Neurol 206:227–242

    Google Scholar 

  • Marks KE, Jane JA (1974) Effects of visual cortical lesions upon ambulatory and static localization of light in space. Exp Neurol 42:707–710

    Google Scholar 

  • Merker BH (1980) The sentenial hypothesis: a role for the mammalian superior colliculus. PhD dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Mesulam MM (1978) Tetramethylbenzidine for horseradish peroxidase neurochemistry: a non-carcinogenic blue reaction product with superior sensitivity for visualizing neuronal afferents and efferents. J Histochem Cytochem 26:106–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Midgley GC, Tees RC (1981) Orienting behavior by rats with visual cortical and subcortical lesions. Exp Brain Res 41:316–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Mlinar EJ, Goodale MA (1984) Cortical and tectal control of visual orientation in the gerbil: evidence for parallel channels. Exp Brain Res 55:33–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Mooney RD, Rhoades RW (1987) Axon terminals in hamster superior colliculus fron ganglion cells with x-like and y-like receptive field properties. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Suppl 28:123

    Google Scholar 

  • Mort E, Cairns S, Hersch H, Finley BL (1980) The role of superior colliculus in visually guided locomotion and visual orienting in the hamster. Physiol Psych 8:20–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Overton P, Dean P (1988) Detection of visual stimuli after lesions of the superior colliculus in the rat: deficit not confined to the far periphery. Behav Brain Res 31:1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Overton P, Dean P, Redgrave P (1985) Detection of visual stimuli in far periphery by rats: possible role of superior colliculus. Exp Brain Res 59:559–569

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhoades RW, Chalupa LM (1978) Functional properties of the corticotectal projection in the golden hamster. J Comp neurol 180:617–634

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhoades RW, Kuo DC, Polcer JD, Fish SE, Vonieda TJ (1982) Indirect visual cortical input to the deep layers of the hamster's superior colliculus via the basal ganglia. J Comp Neurol 208:239–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider GE (1967) Contrasting visuomotor functions of tectum and cortex in the golden hamster. Psychol Forsch 31:52–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider GE (1969) Two visual systems. Science 163:895–902

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider GE (1974) Anomalous axonal connections implicated in sparing and alteration of function after early lesions. In: Eidelberg E, Stein DG (eds) Functional recovery after lesions of the nervous system. (Neurosciences Res Prog Bull, vol 12, no. 2) Neurosciences Research Program, Boston, pp 222–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider GE, Jhaveri S (1974) Neuroanatomical correlates of spared or altered function after brain lesions in the newborn hamster. In: Stein DG, Rosen JJ, Butters NN (eds) Plasticity and recovery of function in the central nervous system. Academic Press, New York, pp 65–109

    Google Scholar 

  • So K-F, Schneider GE, Ayres S (1981) Lesions of the superior colliculus in neonate hamsters: correlation of anatomy with behavior. Exp Neurol 72:379–400

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiao Y-C, Blakemore C (1976a) Functional organization in the visual cortex of the golden hamster. J Comp Neurol 168:459–482

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiao Y-C, Blakemore C (1976b) Functional organization in the superior colliculus of the golden hamster. J Comp neurol 168:483–504

    Google Scholar 

  • Trevarthen CV (1968) Two mechanisms of vision in primates. Psychol Forsch 31:299–337

    Google Scholar 

  • Updyke BV (1977) Topographic organization of the projections from cortical areas 17, 18, and 19 onto the thalamus, pretectum and superior colliculus in the cat. J Comp Neurol 173:81–122

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, E25-634, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 02139, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Laurie S. Carman & Gerald E. Schneider

Authors
  1. Laurie S. Carman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gerald E. Schneider
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Carman, L.S., Schneider, G.E. Orienting behavior in hamsters with lesions of superior colliculus, pretectum, and visual cortex. Exp Brain Res 90, 79–91 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00229259

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00229259

Key words

Search

Navigation