Eye movements in the cat evoked by electrical stimulation of the outer geniculate body.

New data were obtained in experiments with unanesthetized animals showing that electrical stimulation of the structures of the outer geniculate body of the cat elicits goal-directed eye movements. Relationships were found between eye-movement amplitude and direction and the position of the eye at the instant of stimulation, as well as the position of the stimulating electrodes in the outer geniculate body. A scheme is proposed for the multilevel interaction of the visual and oculomotor systems during their functioning, and a possible relation is discussed between the described phenomenon and the mechanisms responsible for the foveation of objects during their recognition.