The Neural Basis for Conjugate Eye Movements

This chapter draws on a range of studies of macaque and humans to forge an anatomical scheme for the control of gaze. At each stage, this scheme is used to predict effects of focal lesions on the control of gaze, with video examples. Contributions include the abducens nucleus, medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF), and paramedian pontine reticular formation (PPRF) to horizontal gaze; the rostral interstitial nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus (RIMLF), interstitial nucleus of Cajal, and posterior commissure to vertical gaze; cerebellar flocculus, paraflocculus, dorsal vermis, fastigial nucleus, and inferior olive to adaptive optimization of gaze. Cortical control of gaze by structures including primary visual cortex (V1), middle temporal visual area (MT, V5), medial superior temporal visual area (MST), posterior parietal cortex, frontal eye fields, supplementary eye fields, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, cingulate cortex, descending pathways, thalamus, pulvinar, caudate, substantia nigra pars reticulata, subthalamic nucleus, and superior colliculus are each discussed.