The FEF works with the superior colliculus (SC), located on the roof of the midbrain, to generate rapid, saccadic eye movements or saccades. A saccade is a type of eye movement in which the eyes rapidly and simultaneously move to change the point of fixation. For instance, when one’s eyes are skimming left to right while reading or when one’s eyes shift their focus from one object to another. The FEF produces saccade movement through four major pathways, “(1) a projection to the ipsilateral superior colliculus concentrated in the intermediate layers, (2) a pathway through the basal ganglia via the ipsilateral striatum, (3) a projection to the cerebellum via the pontine nuclei, and (4) a weaker projection to mesencephalic and pontine nuclei that make up the saccade generator circuit” (Schall
The FEF works with the superior colliculus (SC), located on the roof of the midbrain, to generate rapid, saccadic eye movements or saccades. A saccade is a type of eye movement in which the eyes rapidly and simultaneously move to change the point of fixation. For instance, when one’s eyes are skimming left to right while reading or when one’s eyes shift their focus from one object to another. The FEF produces saccade movement through four major pathways, “(1) a projection to the ipsilateral superior colliculus concentrated in the intermediate layers, (2) a pathway through the basal ganglia via the ipsilateral striatum, (3) a projection to the cerebellum via the pontine nuclei, and (4) a weaker projection to mesencephalic and pontine nuclei that make up the saccade generator circuit” (Schall