Saccades and pursuit: two outcomes of a single sensorimotor process

J Physiol. 2007 Oct 1;584(Pt 1):11-23. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2007.139881. Epub 2007 Aug 9.

Abstract

Saccades and smooth pursuit eye movements are two different modes of oculomotor control. Saccades are primarily directed toward stationary targets whereas smooth pursuit is elicited to track moving targets. In recent years, behavioural and neurophysiological data demonstrated that both types of eye movements work in synergy for visual tracking. This suggests that saccades and pursuit are two outcomes of a single sensorimotor process that aims at orienting the visual axis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / physiology
  • Humans
  • Pursuit, Smooth / physiology*
  • Saccades / physiology*
  • Visual Perception / physiology