Supplementary eye fields
Encyclopedia
Supplementary eye fields (SEF) are areas on the dorsal-medial surface of frontal lobe
of the primate brain
that are involved in planning and control of saccadic
eye movements. The SEF was first characterized by John Schlag and colleagues as an area where low intensity electrical stimulation can evoke saccades, similar to the more lateral frontal eye fields
. More recently it was shown that SEF stimulation produces coordinated gaze movements of both the eyes and head . Neural recordings in the SEF show signals related to both vision and saccades somewhat like the frontal eye fields and superior colliculus
, but currently most investigators think that the SEF has a special role in high level aspects of saccade control, like complex spatial transformations, learned transformations , and executive cognitive functions.
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobe is an area in the brain of humans and other mammals, located at the front of each cerebral hemisphere and positioned anterior to the parietal lobe and superior and anterior to the temporal lobes...
of the primate brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
that are involved in planning and control of saccadic
Saccade
A saccade is a fast movement of an eye, head or other part of an animal's body or device. It can also be a fast shift in frequency of an emitted signal or other quick change. Saccades are quick, simultaneous movements of both eyes in the same direction...
eye movements. The SEF was first characterized by John Schlag and colleagues as an area where low intensity electrical stimulation can evoke saccades, similar to the more lateral frontal eye fields
Frontal eye fields
The frontal eye fields is a region located in the premotor cortex, which is part of the frontal cortex of the primate brain.-Function:...
. More recently it was shown that SEF stimulation produces coordinated gaze movements of both the eyes and head . Neural recordings in the SEF show signals related to both vision and saccades somewhat like the frontal eye fields and superior colliculus
Superior colliculus
The optic tectum or simply tectum is a paired structure that forms a major component of the vertebrate midbrain. In mammals this structure is more commonly called the superior colliculus , but, even in mammals, the adjective tectal is commonly used. The tectum is a layered structure, with a...
, but currently most investigators think that the SEF has a special role in high level aspects of saccade control, like complex spatial transformations, learned transformations , and executive cognitive functions.