Interactions among converging sensory inputs in the superior colliculus.

The responses of superior colliculus cells to a given sensory stimulus were influenced by the presence or absence of other sensory cues. By pooling sensory inputs, many superior colliculus cells seem to amplify the effects of subtle environmental cues in certain conditions, whereas in others, responses to normally effective stimuli can be blocked. The observations illustrate the dynamic, interactive nature of the multisensory inputs which characterize the deeper laminae of the superior colliculus.