The neural encoding of the location of targets for saccadic eye movements

Abstract

Current models of the saccadic system imply that there are at least three neural representations of a visual target to which a saccade is made: representations in retinal, spatial (head or body) and motor coordinates. This paper presents the evidence supporting these models and summarizes the available neurophysiological data concerning neural representations of target location. In the superior colliculus, neurones in the superficial layers encode target location in retinal coordinates. Neurones in the deeper layers responsive to auditory and visual stimuli carry motor error signals. Evidence is also accumulating that some neurones in the thalamus and the frontal and parietal cortex convey information about target position with respect to the head or body, but these studies are far from complete.