Cited by 295Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorVisual perception and processing mechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

A direct projection from superior colliculus to substantia nigra for detecting salient visual events

Comoli, Eliane, Coizet, Véronique, Boyes, Justin, Bolam, J Paul, Canteras, Newton S, Quirk, Rachel H, Overton, Paul G, Redgrave, Peter·2003·Nature Neuroscience

Abstract

Midbrain dopaminergic neurons respond to unexpected and biologically salient events, but little is known about the sensory systems underlying this response. Here we describe, in the rat, a direct projection from a primary visual structure, the midbrain superior colliculus (SC), to the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) where direct synaptic contacts are made with both dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic neurons. Complementary electrophysiological data reveal that short-latency visual responses in the SNc are abolished by ipsilateral lesions of the SC and increased by local collicular stimulation. These results show that the tectonigral projection is ideally located to relay short-latency visual information to dopamine-containing regions of the ventral midbrain. We conclude that it is within this afferent sensory circuitry that the critical perceptual discriminations that identify stimuli as both unpredicted and biologically salient are made.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nn1113

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  • It is unclear how NAc dopamine release encodes the properties and/or emotional valence of arousing visual stimuli, such as visual threats.

    “While many previous studies have reported phasic firing of dopaminergic neurons in response to light flashes in laboratory animals (Horvitz et al., 1997; Comoli et al., 2003; Dommett et al., 2005), it is unclear how NAc dopamine release encodes the properties and/or emotional valence of arousing visual stimuli, such as visual threats.”

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Authors
Comoli, E., Coizet, V., Boyes, J., Bolam, J. P., Canteras, N. S., Quirk, R. H., Overton, P. G., & Redgrave, P.
Affiliations
  • University of Sheffield (GB)
  • University of Oxford (GB)
  • Universidade de São Paulo (BR)
Corresponding author
Redgrave, Peter
Venue
Nature Neuroscience
Published
2003-08-17
Volume
6
Issue
9
Pages
974-980
ISSN
  • 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
  • 1546-1726
OpenAlex
W2153330378
Cited by
295
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 13
FWCI
3.46
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
superior colliculus, substantia nigra pars compacta, dopaminergic neurons, unexpected events, midbrain
MeSH terms
Animals, Female, Male, Neural Pathways, Photic Stimulation, Substantia Nigra, Superior Colliculi, Synapses, Visual Pathways, Visual Perception, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Rats

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