Genetically Defined Functional Modules for Spatial Orienting in the Mouse Superior Colliculus.

ABSTRACT: In order to explore and interact with their surroundings, animals need to orient toward specific positions in space. Throughout the animal kingdom, head movements represent a primary form of orienting behavior. The superior colliculus (SC) is a fundamental structure for the generation of orienting responses, but how genetically distinct groups of collicular neurons contribute to these spatially tuned behaviors remains largely to be defined. Here, through the genetic dissection of the murine SC, we identify a functionally and genetically homogeneous subclass of glutamatergic neurons defined by the expression of the paired-like homeodomain transcription factor Pitx2. We show that the optogenetic stimulation of Pitx2^ON neurons drives three-dimensional head displacements characteriz

SUBMITTER: Masullo L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6739420 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature