Current models of the ocular motor system

Dev Ophthalmol. 2007:40:158-74. doi: 10.1159/000100485.

Abstract

This chapter gives a brief overview of current models of the ocular motor system. Beginning with models of the final ocular pathway consisting of eye plant and the neural velocity-to-position integrator for gaze holding, models of the motor part of the saccadic system, models of the vestibulo-ocular reflexes (VORs), and of the smooth pursuit system are reviewed. As an example, a simple model of the 3-D VOR is developed which shows why the eyes rotate around head-fixed axes during rapid VOR responses such as head impulses, but follow a compromise between head-fixed axes and Listing's law for slow VOR responses.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Eye Movements / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Oculomotor Muscles / physiology*
  • Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular / physiology*