After unilateral removal of the optic tectum in frogs, the cut optic tract regenerates to the remaining ipsilateral tectum. Although the orienting movementselicited by moving objects (food or threats) are now directed mirror-symmetrically to normal responses, these frogs correctly localize stationary objects as barriers. Apparently, thalamic and tectal visual mechanisms can operate independently.
The rapid habituation of many neurons in the frog optic tectum to moving spots is presumed to underlie the behavioral habituation of the frog to repeated movement of prey objects. The "disinhibited" feeding of frogs after pretectal lesions is paralleled by the consistent failure of tectal neurons to ignore moving buglike stimuli.
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