[Role of the visual cortex in organizing eye movements induced by local electric stimulation of the lateral geniculate body of the cat]

Abstract

Eye movements evoked by local electrical stimulation of the dorsal nucleus of the lateral geniculate body were analyzed in cats with extirpated visual cortex and in intact cats. The experiments were performed in alert cats. There were no differences between the obtained spatial characteristics of eye movements evoked by electrical stimulation in experimental and intact cats. These results suggest that visual cortical areas are not the main and necessary links in the chain for signal transmission (evoked by electrical stimulation of lateral geniculate body) from subcortical parts of the direct visual pathway to acting links of the oculomotor system. The possible pathways for transmission of information from the dorsal nucleus of the lateral geniculate body to structures of the oculomotor system are discussed.