Development of higher cognitive functions based on the subcortical brain areas

This study investigated a role the extrageniculate visual system （subcortical system) consisting of retina → superior colliculus （SC) → pulvinar → amygdala in the brain development. The neurophysiological results indicated that neurons in these areas responded to social stimuli including faces and eye contact with short response latencies. The lesion of the SC induced autistic-likedeficits in monkeys. Furthermore, neuroanatomical studies using various kinds of animal models of autisms indicated that the number of parvalbumin-positive （GABAergic) neurons was decreased in these areas.