Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
10:49
Ocular Kinematics Measured by In Vitro Stimulation of the Cranial Nerves in the Turtle
Published on: June 2, 2018
Eye movements tell only half the story
S Ferber1, J Danckert, M Joanisse
1CIHR Group on Action and Perception, Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. ferber@psych.utoronto.ca
Neurology
|June 11, 2003
Summary
Prism adaptation (PA) shifts exploratory eye movements in neglect patients toward the left. However, this intervention does not improve awareness of the left side, indicating it doesn't address core neglect mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Neglect is a cognitive disorder characterized by a lack of awareness for one side of space.
- Prism adaptation (PA) has shown promise in improving neglect symptoms, suggesting a reorganization of spatial representation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether prism adaptation (PA) truly reorganizes higher-level spatial representations in neglect patients.
- To determine if PA influences the underlying mechanisms of neglect beyond motor control.
Main Methods:
- A patient with neglect underwent prism adaptation (PA).
- Exploratory eye movements were tracked before and after PA.
- Awareness of stimuli on the neglected side was assessed post-PA.
Main Results:
- Following PA, the patient's eye movements significantly shifted toward the left side.
- Despite the shift in exploration, the patient demonstrated no improved awareness of left-sided stimuli.
- PA modulated parietal lobe functions related to eye movement control.
Conclusions:
- Prism adaptation (PA) affects eye movement control but does not resolve the fundamental deficit in spatial awareness characteristic of neglect.
- The findings challenge the interpretation that PA reorganizes higher-level spatial representations in neglect.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Muscles of the Eye
The muscles of the eye are sophisticated structures that control eye movement and focus, allowing for the precise and rapid adjustments necessary for vision. The human eye is controlled by ten muscles — six extraocular muscles, three intraocular muscles, and one primary eyelid retractor muscle.
Extraocular Muscles
The six extraocular muscles surround the eyeball and control its movements. They are responsible for a wide range of eye motions, including looking up, down, left, right, and rotating...
Extraocular Muscles
The six extraocular muscles surround the eyeball and control its movements. They are responsible for a wide range of eye motions, including looking up, down, left, right, and rotating...
01:17Accessory Structures of the Eye
Optical perception, or vision, is an extraordinary sense dependent on converting light signals received via the ocular organs. These organs, known as eyes, are securely positioned within the bony cavities of the skull, called orbits. The orbits serve a dual purpose: a protective shield for the ocular globes and a stable attachment point for the soft ocular tissues. The eye's external protective mechanisms include the eyelids, which are edged with lashes that act as a barrier against foreign...
01:20Anatomy of the Eyeball
The eye is a spherical, hollow structure composed of three tissue layers. The outer layer — the fibrous tunic, comprises the sclera — a white structure — and the cornea, which is transparent. The sclera encompasses some of the ocular surface, most of which is not visible. However, the 'white of the eye' is distinctively visible in humans compared to other species. The cornea, a clear covering at the front of the eye, enables light penetration. The eye's middle layer, the vascular tunic,...