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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
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Using Eye-tracking to Assess the Relative Importance of Visual and Vestibular Input to Subcortical Motion Processing in the Roll Plane
Published on: August 22, 2025
Optimal control of gaze shifts
Andreas A Kardamakis1, Adonis K Moschovakis
1Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics, Foundation of Research and Technology Hellas, Heraklion 71003, Crete, Greece. kardamak@edu.med.uoc.gr
Summary
Human and primate gaze shifts, involving coordinated eye and head movements, follow a "minimum effort rule." This principle guides rapid and accurate visual exploration, suggesting specific neural control mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomechanics
- Primate behavior
Background:
- Human and primate visual exploration relies on gaze shifts, which are coordinated eye and head movements.
- These movements exhibit stereotypical metrics and kinematics, suggesting underlying control principles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the fundamental physical principles governing gaze shifts in both head-fixed and head-free conditions.
- To compare these principles with existing models of neural control for gaze shifts.
Main Methods:
- Application of optimal control theory to analyze gaze shift execution.
- Direct comparison of experimental data with theoretical models.
Main Results:
- Demonstration that both head-fixed saccades and head-free gaze shifts adhere to a minimum effort rule.
- Identification of inhibitory cross-talk between independent eye and head controllers as the neural implementation of this rule.
Conclusions:
- The minimum effort rule is a core principle in the neural control of gaze shifts.
- Inhibitory cross-talk is a key neural mechanism enabling efficient and accurate gaze control.
