The visuotopic organization of the superior colliculus of the owl monkey (Aotus trivirgatus) and the bush baby (Galago senegalensis)

Abstract

Microelectrodes were used to map the representation of the visual field in the superior colliculus of the owl monkey and bush baby. The results lead to the conclusion that the representation in these primates is restricted to the contralateral half of the visual field in each tectum, while the representation reported for several other species of mammals is more extensive including part of the ipsilateral half field and all or most of the retina of the contralateral eye. Thus, we conclude that at least two different basic types of visuotopic organization are found in the mammalian superior colliculus