What Are the Functions of the Superior Colliculus and Its Involvement in Neurologic Disorders?

Abstract

The superior colliculus (SC) is an evolutionary conserved sensorimotor structure that is specialized for detecting, localizing, and orienting toward environmental events and has a critical role in orienting motor responses, visuospatial attention, and perceptual decision-making.1-8 The SC consists of a superficial layer that receives visual inputs and intermediate and deep motor layers that initiate saccades and other orienting movements toward the contralateral hemispace. Modern molecular and genetic methods combined with behavioral assessments have provided further understanding of the cell types, circuits, and functions of the SC (reviewed in ref. 9,10). The SC is affected by α-synuclein and tau neuropathology in Lewy body dementia (LBD),11 shows abnormal responses to visual stimuli in Parkinson disease (PD),12,13 may contribute to impaired saccades in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP),14 and may be involved in the pathophysiology of cervical dystonia.15,16 This brief review will focus on recent concepts on the functional organization and connectivity of the SC that are relevant to understand the pathophysiology of these and other neurologic disorders.

Mesial temporal dopamine: From biology to behaviour

“…Volume deviations of the hippocampus and amygdala are seen in several neuropsychiatric diseases, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia (Adriano et al, 2012; Benarroch, 2015; Camicioli et al, 2003; Dhikav & Anand, 2011; Harding et al, 2002; Poulin et al, 2011; van de Pol et al, 2006). However, architectural changes of the MTL are not the only contributors to disease progression, as hippocampal and amygdalar dopamine also advance neurodegenerative disorders.…”

Human amygdala involvement in Alzheimer's disease revealed by stereological and dia‐PASEF analysis

“…Pathology might propagate from the olfactory and hippocampal areas (early affected in AD) to the Co and BL, respectively. The projections from the Co to CA1 and layer I-II of the entorhinal cortex (EC), together with the loops established between CA1-BA-CA1 and layer V-BL-layer III to V of the EC (diffuse projections) [16,44,45], might indicate that the AC is a regulator of pathology distribution in these areas [46] (Figure 8).…”

“…Furthermore, TDP‐43‐P pathology observed in the amygdala nuclei resembles Tau and Aβ distribution (Online Resource 10). The involvement of these nuclei could be related to the spread of the disease via connections with the hippocampus and/or olfactory areas [44]. Pathology might propagate from the olfactory and hippocampal areas (early affected in AD) to the Co and BL, respectively.…”

Glymphatic System and Mitochondrial Dysfunction as Two Crucial Players in Pathophysiology of Neurodegenerative Disorders

“…In the course of neurodegenerative diseases, there is no doubt that metabolism deviates from homeostasis [74]. The aforementioned Na + /K + -ATPase is responsible not only for the production of CSF, but also for the maintenance of neuronal excitability, and conduction of the action potential, which is crucial for the functioning of the CNS [75]. Thus, the impact of energy disruption and the resulting ATP deficiency would not only impair CSF production, but would potentially be disastrous in its effect on the entire CNS.…”