THE LATERAL GENICULATE-NUCLEUS PROJECTS TO THE INFERIOR TEMPORAL CORTEX IN THE MACAQUE MONKEY

THE dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus (dLGN) projects to several extrastriate areas of the macaque brain. The extent of the dLGN projection to the visual temporal cortex was investigated using r etrogradely transported dyes. A population of dLGN neurones was labell ed after injections in the inferior temporal cortex (ITC) including th e lower bank of the superior temporal sulcus and the inferior temporal convexity. The labelled neurones were located in the lateral half of the posterior one-third of the dLGN and predominated in the interlamin ar zones or close to the borders of the parvocellular layers. This dir ect projection from the dLGN to the ITC may mediate some of the visual abilities known to be retained by destriated animals.