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Gaze stabilization: Bats do move their eyes but differently from mice
Stefan Glasauer1, François Lambert2
1Computational Neuroscience, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Cottbus, Germany.
Current Biology : CB
|May 5, 2026
Summary
Bats do move their eyes, a finding previously unknown. However, their gaze stabilization is weaker than in mice, despite similar vestibular systems.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Biology
- Comparative Physiology
Background:
- Bats are known for sophisticated echolocation.
- The presence and function of eye movements in bats remain largely unexplored.
- Understanding visual-motor control in bats can offer insights into sensory integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether bats exhibit eye movements.
- To characterize the gaze-stabilizing responses in bats.
- To compare bat eye movement control with that of other mammals, such as mice.
Main Methods:
- Utilized high-speed video recording to track eye movements in bats.
- Measured vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain during head rotations.
- Compared VOR performance in bats with established data from mice.
Main Results:
- Bats demonstrate clear eye movements, particularly during locomotion and sensory stimulation.
- The gaze-stabilizing responses in bats were found to be significantly weaker compared to mice.
- Despite differences in gaze stabilization, bats possess a functional vestibular system comparable to mice.
Conclusions:
- Bats possess the capability for eye movements, contributing to their sensory perception.
- The weaker gaze stabilization in bats suggests unique adaptations in their visual-motor control system.
- Comparative studies highlight the diversity of sensory processing strategies across mammalian species.
