Central ocular motor disorders

Abstract

Our understanding of the complexities of the central mechanisms that control human eye movements continues to expand rapidly under the twin impetus of more widespread use of high-resolution eye movement recording techniques and improved anatomical localization of lesions using magnetic resonance imaging. In parallel, there has been continued expansion of sophisticated neurophysiological studies in monkeys examining basic ocular motor control mechanisms. Another important area that is now rapidly expanding is the application to human diseases of more complex and cognitively demanding saccadic eye movement stimulus paradigms such as antisaccades, memory-guided saccades, and express saccades. Finally, a much clearer understanding and exposition of the complexities of central vestibular function appears to be gathering pace.