eLife assessment
This study presents a valuable finding relating to how the state of arousal is represented within the superior colliculus, a principal visuo-oculomotor structure. The main conclusion that the representation of arousal is segregated, and thus does not directly influence motor output, is incompletely supported by the evidence and the work would be improved if additional analyses were performed to rule out alternative explanations. The work will be of interest to sensory, motor, and cognitive neuroscientists.