Reversible mechanical fixation of eye position in awake head-restrained pigeons (Columba livia)

Here we describe a method to fix gaze positions and to significantly reduce saccadic oscillations in pigeons. The procedure consists of a mechanical immobilization of the eye through the use of an electromagnet that exerts a radial force upon a small metal rectangle glued to the dorsal part of the eye. The method can be used in avian visual neurophysiology in order to hold the eye immobilized for periods of time, long enough to map the properties of visual receptive fields and investigate the possible functions of saccadic oscillations.