Neurological basis of eye movement

Abstract

Eye movements are divided into two components: one is saccadic eye movement which catches the object; the other is smooth pursuit eye movement which pursues the object, once caught, while it is moving. We first summarize the anatomical and physiological mechanism of these two components, with special reference to the difference in horizontal versus vertical eye movements, and subsequently we summarize the mechanisms of these two kinds of eye movement. At the same time, various researchers have made successful use of the eye-movement-controlling-maneuver to treat psychological problems. Although the mechanism by which eye movement affects the psychological state is still unclear, many authors have already confirmed its usefulness. Eye movement may therefore be an effective maneuver in the field of biofeedback therapy.