Macaque SEF neurons encode object-centered directions of eye movements regardless of the visual attributes of instructional cues

Neurons in the supplementary eye field (SEF) of the macaque monkey exhibit object-centered direction selectivity in the context of a task in which a s pot flashed on the right or left end of a sample bar instructs a monkey to make an eye movement to the right or left end of a target bar. To determine whether SEF neurons are selective for the location of the cue, as defined relative to the sample bar, or, alternatively, for the location of the targ et, as defined relative to the target bar, we carried out recording while m onkeys performed a new task. In this task, the color of a cue-spot instruct ed the monkey to which end of the target bar an eye movement should be made (blue for the left end and yellow for the right end). Object-centered dire ction selectivity persisted under this condition, indicating that neurons a re selective for the location of the target relative to the target bar. How ever, object-centered signals developed at a longer latency (by similar to 200 ms) when the instruction was conveyed by color than when it was-conveye d by the location of a spot on a sample bar.