The properties of convergence eye movements evoked from the rostral and caudal lateral suprasylvian cortex in the cat

Convergence eye movements were evoked in the lateral suprasylvian cortex (L S cortex) in the cat. Three effective regions were found: the rostral and c audal parts of the postero-medial LS cortex (the PMLS) and the rostral part of the postero-lateral LS cortex (the PLLS). These three areas represent t he central and paracentral visual fields in the published retinotopic map ( Palmer et ar., 1978). Convergence eye movements evoked from the caudal PMLS were divided into two groups based on their latencies, the short-latency c omponents (SLC) and long-latency components (LLC). The SLC and the LLC had differences in their symmetry of right and left eye movements during vergen ce eye movement. The SLC had symmetric right and left eye components and th e LLC had dominant contrarateral eye components. In the rostral PMLS, laten cies of evoked convergence eye movement were comparable to those of the cau dal PMLS, but they did not divided into two groups. Convergence eye movemen ts evoked from the PLLS had longer latencies than those from the PMLS and a symmetric right and left eye components. It is suggested that different sub regions in the LS cortex contribute to the control of convergence eye movem ent, playing different roles. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd and The Japan Neuroscience Society. All rights reserved.