Final answer:
The superior colliculus is the area of the brain responsible for helping orient to important stimuli by integrating sensory information and facilitating the coordination of head and eye movements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The area of the brain that helps with orienting to important stimuli in our environment, especially in coordinating head and eye movements to catch a ball, is the superior colliculus. This structure is part of the tectum, located in the midbrain, and plays a crucial role in processing and integrating sensory information from visual, auditory, and somatosensory systems. The superior colliculus receives input not only to help orient the eyes towards a visual stimulus but also to coordinate with the head and neck muscles to turn towards an auditory or somatosensory stimulus.
Adjacent to the superior colliculus, are regions like the frontal eye fields, which are connected directly and responsible for moving the eyes in response to visual stimuli. The superior colliculus's integration of various sensory maps enables us to quickly react to our environment, such as when we instinctively look towards the source of a sound or touch.