Topic: tecto-spinal systems

The Superior Colliculus (SC) is a highly conserved midbrain organ implicated in sensorimotor integration. Pitx2on neurons are a recently identified population of glutamatergic neurons in the intermediate SC, whose activation leads to spatially oriented head movements. Viral tracing of these output neurons revealed a plethora of input and output regions. Particularly, while Pitx2on neurons project to tecto-spinal systems, traditionally associated with the control of head and eye movements, they also target the mesocorticolimbic system, suggesting a possible role of these neurons going beyond mo