Rusciano Dario, Bagnoli Paola
Fidia Ophthalmic Research, 95123 Catania, Italy.
Department of Biology, University of Pisa, 56123 Pisa, Italy.
Cells. 2025 Apr 25;14(9):635. doi: 10.3390/cells14090635.
The integration of multisensory inputs plays a crucial role in shaping perception and behavior, particularly in the visual system. The collicular pathway, encompassing the optic tectum in non-mammalian vertebrates and the superior colliculus (SC) in mammals, is a key hub for integrating sensory information and mediating adaptive motor responses. Comparative studies across species reveal evolutionary adaptations that enhance sensory processing and contribute to compensatory mechanisms following neuronal injury. The present review outlines the structure and function of the multisensory visual pathways, emphasizing the retinocollicular projections, and their multisensory integration, which depends on synaptic convergence of afferents conveying information from different sensory modalities. The cellular mechanisms underlying multimodal integration remain to be fully clarified, and further investigations are needed to clarify the link between neuronal activity in response to multisensory stimulation and behavioral response involving motor activity. By exploring the interplay between fundamental neuroscience and translational applications, we aim to address multisensory integration as a pivotal target for its potential role in visual rehabilitation strategies.
多感觉输入的整合在塑造感知和行为方面起着关键作用，尤其是在视觉系统中。丘系通路，在非哺乳动物脊椎动物中包括视顶盖，在哺乳动物中包括上丘（SC），是整合感觉信息和介导适应性运动反应的关键枢纽。跨物种的比较研究揭示了进化适应，这些适应增强了感觉处理能力，并有助于神经元损伤后的代偿机制。本综述概述了多感觉视觉通路的结构和功能，强调了视网膜-丘脑投射及其多感觉整合，这取决于来自不同感觉模态的传入信息的突触汇聚。多模态整合的细胞机制仍有待充分阐明，需要进一步研究以明确多感觉刺激引起的神经元活动与涉及运动活动的行为反应之间的联系。通过探索基础神经科学与转化应用之间的相互作用，我们旨在将多感觉整合作为视觉康复策略中潜在作用的关键靶点来加以研究。
