Seeing Without Looking: Brain Structure Crucial for Moving the Mind’s Spotlight

December 29, 2009 | Source: Science Daily

The superior colliculus, a brain structure in the midbrain known for its role in the control of eye and head movements, is crucial for moving the mind’s attention, Salk Institute for Biological Studies researchers have found.

The research adds new insight into our understanding of how attention is controlled by the brain. The results are closely related to a neurological disorder known as the neglect syndrome, and they may also shed light on the origins of other disorders associated with chronic attention problems, such as autism or attention deficit disorder.