High-contrast, moving targets in an emerging target paradigm promote fast visuomotor responses during visually guided reaching

Abstract

How does the brain rapidly transform vision into action? Here, by recording upper limb muscle activity, we find that high-contrast and fast-moving targets are highly effective at evoking rapid visually guided reaches. We surmise that a brain stem circuit originating in the superior colliculus contributes to the most rapid reaching responses. When time is of the essence, cortical areas may serve to prime this circuit and elaborate subsequent phases of recruitment.

Topics & Concepts