The role of thalamic pulvinar in eye-hand coordination for goal-directed actions
by Adán Ulises Domínguez Vargas
Date of Examination:2017-03-13
Date of issue:2017-12-07
Advisor:Dr. Igor Kagan
Referee:Dr. Igor Kagan
Referee:Prof. Dr. Alexander Gail
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Abstract
English
The pulvinar, the largest thalamic complex in primates has largely expanded during primate evolution, along with association cortices. Its dorsal part is anatomically connected to the fronto-parietal network, involved in the planning and generation of purposeful eye, arm, and hand movements. Early studies have identified the dorsal pulvinar as an area linked to voluntary behavior in different species. Such reports however are sparse, even though insightful and revealing. The formulation of a hypothesis of dorsal pulvinar’s involvement in volitional visuo-motor behavior is still largely speculative. Here, we performed a series of correlational electrophysiological and behavioral experiments as well as causal manipulations of dorsal pulvinar to further our knowledge on the participation of pulvinar in the generation of visuo-motor actions.
Keywords: pulvinar; saccades; decision-making; reaches; microstimulation; macaque; inactivation