Ask Dr. Nick
On today’s episode, Dr. Nick talks about how the eyes and eye movements can give us knowledge on how the brain is functioning. You may have heard that the eyes are the window to the brain. This is because your eyes are direct extensions of your brain that sprout out during development. Then, we rely on our visual system to tell us where we are in space and what is around us. In order to map our world, we need the ability to move our eyes to see it. This requires a large amount of brain activity from many areas that are interconnected through brain circuits. When one part of the brain is not functioning well, we can identify and rehabilitate that area via eye movements. Check out the video for more in depth information on the different types of eye movements and how they can be used for diagnosis and treatment!
Reference: Lappi, O. Eye movements in the wild: Oculomotor control, gaze behavior & frames of reference. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2016; 69:49-68. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.06.006
