The Accessory Optic System: Basic Organization with an Update on Connectivity, Neurochemistry, and Function
UC Irvine UC Irvine Previously Published Works Title The accessory optic system: basic organization with an update on connectivity, neurochemistry, and function. Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3v25z604 Journal Progress in brain research, 151 ISSN 0079-6123 Authors Giolli, Roland A Blanks, Robert H I Lui, Fausta Publication Date 2005 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California Chapter 13 The accessory optic system: basic organization with an update on connectivity, neurochemistry, and function Roland A. Giolli1, , , Robert H.I. Blanks1, 2 and Fausta Lui3 1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, College of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA 2Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd., P.O. Box 3091, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA 3Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sezione di Fisiologia, Universita di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41100, Modena, Italy Available online 10 October 2005. Abstract The accessory optic system (AOS) is formed by a series of terminal nuclei receiving direct visual information from the retina via one or more accessory optic tracts. In addition to the retinal input, derived from ganglion cells that characteristically have large receptive fields, are direction-selective, and have a preference for slow moving stimuli, there are now well-characterized afferent connections with a key pretectal nucleus (nucleus of the optic tract) and the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus. The efferent connections of the AOS are robust, targeting brainstem and other structures in support of visual-oculomotor events such as optokinetic nystagmus and visual–vestibular interaction. This chapter reviews the newer experimental findings while including older data concerning the structural and functional organization of the AOS.
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