Final answer:
The superior colliculi are involved in coordinating visual, auditory, and somatosensory information, aiding in spatial orientation, while the inferior colliculi are part of the auditory pathway and help in the conscious perception of sound.
Step-by-step explanation:
The corpora quadrigemina is a structure in the midbrain that includes two pairs of hills known as colliculi. The upper pair, called the superior colliculi, integrates visual, auditory, and somatosensory information to help navigate our spatial environment. This allows one to turn toward a sound or touch stimulus; for instance, if a bird chirps while walking by a tree, the superior colliculus helps locate the source visually and auditorily.
The inferior colliculi, forming the lower pair, are integral to the auditory pathway in the brain stem. They receive sound information and project to the thalamus, which in turn relays auditory data to the auditory cortex for conscious perception. Furthermore, both colliculi coordinate with various motor centers to enable reflexive movements, such as turning the head towards the source of a sound.