Eye Movement Physiology

Frank M. Marchak, Ph.D.

Veridical Research and Design Corporation

www.vradc.com

Society for Psychophysiological Research

September 14 2011
Eye Anatomy

webvision.med.utah.edu/imageswv/Sagschem.jpeg

www.skybrary.aero/images/thumb/Vis_Fig2.jpg/500px-Vis_Fig2.jpg
Why do you move your eyes?
Yarbus (1967)

Task influences eye movement behavior

Types of Eye Movements

• Gaze Stabilization
– Vestibulo-ocular
– Optokinetic
• Gaze shifting
– Vergence
– Smooth Pursuit
– Saccade
Gaze Stabilization
Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex

commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vestibulo-ocular_reflex_lateroflexion
www.youtube.com/user/mbolding#p/u/15/PeO6w_bCz8U
_of_neck.svg

• Stabilize eyes relative to external world

- Compensate for head movements
 Gaze Stabilization
Optokinetic Nystagmus

img.springerimages.com/Images/ImagesMD/ATOPH/01/66/WATER_ATOPH01-09- www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSJksSA6Q-A&feature=related
66-003B.jpg

• Elicited by moving objects that produce illusion of

head movement or slow head movements
undetected by vestibular system
• Visual-ocular response
Gaze Shifting
Vergence

schorlab.berkeley.edu/vilis/vergence.htm www.youtube.com/user/mbolding#p/u/16/9kgi_Avr66I

• Align fovea of each eye with targets at different

distances from observer
- Disconjugate
Gaze Shifting
Smooth Pursuit

Wetenbakerr,(1984). The Eye: Window on the World www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEfz1fFjU78

• Keep moving stimulus on fovea

- Under voluntary control
 Gaze Shifting
Saccadic

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEJfAxJEP6E

• Ballistic movements that abruptly change point of fixation

How do you move your eyes?
Extraocular Muscles

eyeaerobics.com/program/
IO SR IO/SR SR/IO SR IO

LR MR MR LR

SO IR SO/IR IR/SO IR SO

MR MR

CONVERGENCE

emedicine.medscape.com/article/1189759-overview
Ophthalmotrope (Ruete, 1857)

bjo.bmj.com/content/93/5.cover-expansion
Extraocular Muscle Innervation
Extraocular Muscle Innervation
Origins
Extraocular Muscle Innervation
Ocular Motor Neuron Nuclei

Purves, et al., (2004). Neuroscience

Extraocular Muscle Innervation
Ocular Motor Neuron Nuclei
www.sharpsight.in/images/treatments/eye%20trackers.jpg

Saccadic Eye Movements

express.howstuffworks.com/gif/body-saccidic-composite.jpg
Time Course of Saccades

Purves, et al., (2004). Neuroscience

• Two components
• Amplitude
• Lower motor neurons within oculomotor nuclei
• Direction
• Premotor neurons in gaze centers in brainstem
Neural Control of Saccades

Purves, et al., (2004). Neuroscience Purves, et al., (2004). Neuroscience

• Discharge frequency directly proportional to

position and velocity of eye
Neural Control of Saccades
Pulse-Step

• Pulse
- Tonic signal – eyes hold position
- Height: speed of saccade
- Duration: duration of saccade
• Step
- Phasic signal – eyes move
- Height: amplitude of saccade brain.phgy.queensu.ca/pare/assets/Oculomotor%20lecture.pdf
 Neural Control of Saccades
Gaze Centers

• Horizontal
- Paramedian pontine
reticular formation
(PPRF)
• Vertical
- Rostral interstitial
nucleus (rostral iMLF)

cueflash.com/decks/CONTROL_OF_EYE_MOVEMENTS_-_57
Neural Control of Saccades
Horizontal Eye Movements

Purves, et al., (2004). Neuroscience

 Horizontal Saccades
Excitatory Burst Neurons
• PPRF
– Phasic signal of abducens
motor neurons

brain.phgy.queensu.ca/pare/assets/Oculomotor%20lecture.pdf
 Horizontal Saccades
Tonic Neurons
• Nucleus prepositus
hypoglossi
– Tonic signal of abducens motor
neurons

brain.phgy.queensu.ca/pare/assets/Oculomotor%20lecture.pdf
 Horizontal Saccades
Inhibitory Burst Neurons
• Paramedian pontine reticular
formation (PPRF)
– Inhibit contralateral abducens
internuclear and motor neurons

brain.phgy.queensu.ca/pare/assets/Oculomotor%20lecture.pdf
 Horizontal Saccades
Omnipause Neurons
• Inhibit burst neurons in PPRF
– Prevent saccades
– Activate saccade burst generator

brain.phgy.queensu.ca/pare/assets/Oculomotor%20lecture.pdf
 Horizontal Saccades
Superior Colliculus
• Motor command
- PPRF burst neurons
• Trigger command
- Omnipause neurons

brain.phgy.queensu.ca/pare/assets/Oculomotor%20lecture.pdf
Superior Colliculus
Topographic Motor Map

Purves, et al., (2004). Neuroscience

Saccadic Eye Movements
Higher Saccadic Centers

cueflash.com/decks/CONTROL_OF_EYE_MOVEMENTS_-_57
Higher Saccadic Centers
Frontal Eye Fields

Purves, et al., (2004). Neuroscience

Higher Saccadic Centers
Posterior Parietal Cortex

camelot.mssm.edu/~ygyu/clip_image016_0001.jpg
Higher Saccadic Centers
Basal Ganglia

Purves, et al., (2004). Neuroscience

Neural Control of VOR

library.med.utah.edu/kw/animations/hyperbrain/oculo_reflex/oculocephalic2.html

lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/lsda_data/dil_data/msci1083.jpg
Neural Control of Smooth Pursuit

cueflash.com/decks/CONTROL_OF_EYE_MOVEMENTS_-_57