Cortical and subcortical projections of the middle temporal area (MT) and adjacent cortex in galagos.

Abstract

Projections of the middle temporal visual area, MT, and of visual cortex adjoining MT were investigated with autoradiographic methods in the prosimian primate, Galago senegalensis. Ipsilateral cortical targets of MT included area 17, area 18, cortex caudal to MT, cortex ventral to MT, and parietal-occipital cortex dorsal to MT. This pattern of projections suggests that extrastriate cortex contains a number of visual subdivisions in addition to MT. Contralateral projections were to MT and parietal-occipital cortex. Projections from MT to areas 17 and 18 connected regions representing similar parts of the visual hemifield while the location of callosal projections in MT matched the location of the injection site in the other hemisphere. Label in area 17 was concentrated in layers I, III, and VI whereas other cortical areas were most densely labeled in the granular and supragranular layers. Subcortical projections of MT included the reticular nucleus of the thalamus, the lateral posterior nucleus, the superior pulvinar, the inferior pulvinar, the superior colliculus, and the pontine nuclei. The projection pattern to the superior and inferior pulvinar nuclei suggests that MT projects in a topographic manner to two subdivisions within each of these structures. Injections in cortex just outside of MT labeled area 18, inferotemporal cortex, parietal-occipital cortex, and, to a lesser extent, MT. The projections to inferotemporal cortex clearly distinguish the bordering cortex from MT. Contralateral cortical terminations were in locations corresponding to the injection site. Subcortical targets were generally similar to those seen after MT injections, although additional projections were observed depending on the location of the injection. Comparison of these results from the prosimian galago with studies in New and Old World monkeys indicates there are substantial similarities in projections. Thus, some of the cortical and thalamic subdivisions described for monkeys appear to exist in prosimians.