Physiology and pathology of eye–head coordination

Human head movement control can be considered as part of the oculomotor system since the control of gaze involves coordination of the eyes and head. Humans show a remarkable degree of flexibility in eye–head coordination strategies, nonetheless an individual will often demonstrate stereotypical patt...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Progress in retinal and eye research 2007-09, Vol.26 (5), p.486-515
Main Authors: Proudlock, Frank Antony, Gottlob, Irene
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging
Disease
Eye Diseases - physiopathology
Eye Movements
Eye–head coordination
Head Movements
Humans
Nervous System Diseases - physiopathology
Ocular Motility Disorders - physiopathology
Oculomotor
Pathology
Physiology
Psychomotor Performance
Pursuit
Saccades
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia - physiopathology
Vestibular Diseases - physiopathology
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Summary:Human head movement control can be considered as part of the oculomotor system since the control of gaze involves coordination of the eyes and head. Humans show a remarkable degree of flexibility in eye–head coordination strategies, nonetheless an individual will often demonstrate stereotypical patterns of eye–head behaviour for a given visual task. This review examines eye–head coordination in laboratory-based visual tasks, such as saccadic gaze shifts and combined eye–head pursuit, and in common tasks in daily life, such as reading. The effect of the aging process on eye–head coordination is then reviewed from infancy through to senescence. Consideration is also given to how pathology can affect eye–head coordination from the lowest through to the highest levels of oculomotor control, comparing conditions as diverse as eye movement restrictions and schizophrenia. Given the adaptability of the eye–head system we postulate that this flexible system is under the control of the frontal cortical regions, which assist in planning, coordinating and executing behaviour. We provide evidence for this based on changes in eye–head coordination dependant on the context and expectation of presented visual stimuli, as well as from changes in eye–head coordination caused by frontal lobe dysfunction.
ISSN:1350-9462
1873-1635
DOI:10.1016/j.preteyeres.2007.03.004