Final answer:
The superior colliculus aligns visual, auditory, and somatosensory information to coordinate body responses to stimuli, while the inferior colliculus processes and relays auditory information to the thalamus and onto the auditory cortex for conscious perception.
Step-by-step explanation:
The superior colliculus and inferior colliculus are integral components located in the midbrain tectum, involved in multisensory processing. The superior colliculus plays a crucial role in coordinating sensory information from the visual, auditory, and somatosensory systems. It is involved in orienting the eyes and head towards a stimulus, integrating both visual and auditory maps to help the body react to environmental cues, such as coordinating eye movements to align with sounds or sights.
The inferior colliculus is part of the auditory brainstem pathway and is responsible for relaying auditory information from the ears to the thalamus. From there, the information is transmitted to the auditory cortex in the cerebrum, allowing for the conscious perception of sound. The inferior colliculus receives auditory signals and helps process these signals before they reach higher auditory centers in the cerebral cortex.