Smooth pursuit
Smooth Pursuit
Smooth pursuit (/smuːð pərˈsjuːt/) is a type of eye movement that allows the eyes to closely follow a moving object. It is one of two ways that visual animals can voluntarily shift gaze, the other being saccadic eye movements.
Etymology
The term "smooth pursuit" comes from the smooth, continuous nature of the eye movement, as opposed to the rapid, jerky movements of saccades. The word "pursuit" is used because the eyes are following or "pursuing" a moving target.
Function
Smooth pursuit is primarily used to track moving objects with the fovea, the central area of the retina where visual acuity is highest. This is crucial for tasks such as reading and catching a ball. Without the ability to perform smooth pursuit movements, an individual would have to constantly move their head to follow a moving object.
Mechanism
Smooth pursuit involves the coordination of several different areas of the brain. The initial detection of the moving object is done by the visual cortex, which then sends a signal to the frontal eye fields (FEF). The FEF then sends a signal to the brainstem, which ultimately controls the movement of the extraocular muscles that move the eye.
Related Terms
- Saccade: A rapid movement of the eye between fixation points.
- Fixation (visual): The maintaining of the visual gaze on a single location.
- Vestibulo-ocular reflex: A reflex that stabilizes gaze during head movement, producing eye movements in the direction opposite to head movement.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Smooth pursuit
- Wikipedia's article - Smooth pursuit
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