Instead, he found that the optic tectum and the thalamic-pretectal region ( in the diencephalon ) play significant roles in the analysis and interpretation of visual stimuli ( summarized in Ewert 1974, 2004; Ewert and Schwippert 2006 ).
22.
As explained above, the optic tectum is responsible for the orienting and snapping responses in prey-catching behavior; however, Ewert's research also revealed that focal electrical stimulation of the thalamic and pretectal brain regions evoked different kinds of avoidance behaviors in the toad.
23.
The ventral dendrite receives information from the optic tectum and spinal cord while the lateral dendrite receives inputs from the octovolateralis systems ( the lateral line, acoustic inputs from the inner ear, and inertial information from the statoliths brought by the cranial nerve VIII ).
