A subcortical network for implicit visuo-spatial attention: Implications for Parkinson's Disease

Recent studies in humans and animal models suggest a primary role of the basal ganglia extraction stimulus-value regularities, then exploited to orient attentional shift build up sensorimotor memories. The tail caudate posterior putamen both receive early visual input from superficial layers superior colliculus, thus forming closed-loop. We portend that functional value this circuit is manage selection stimuli rapid automatic way, once sensory–motor associations are formed stored striatum. In Parkinson's Disease, nigrostriatal dopamine depletion starts tends be more pronounced putamen. Thus, at least some aspect visuospatial attention deficits observed since stages disease could behavioral consequences cognitive system has lost ability translate high-level processing stable