Frontal eye fields
Encyclopedia
The frontal eye fields is a region located in the premotor cortex
, which is part of the frontal cortex
of the primate brain
.
The frontal eye field is reported to be activated during the initiation of eye movements, such as voluntary saccades and pursuit eye movements
. There is also evidence that it plays a role in purely sensory processing and that it belongs to a “fast brain” system through a superior colliculus
– medial dorsal nucleus
– FEF ascending pathway.
In humans, its earliest activations in regard to visual stimuli occur at 45 ms with activations related to changes in visual stimuli within 45–60 ms (these are comparable with response times in the primary visual cortex).
This fast brain pathway also provides auditory input at even shorter times starting at 24 ms and being affected by auditory characteristics at 30–60 ms.
The FEF constitutes together with the supplementary eye fields
(SEF), the intraparietal sulcus
(IPS) and the superior colliculus
(SC) one of the most important brain areas involved in the generation and control of eye movements, particularly in the direction contralateral to the frontal eye fields' location.
Premotor cortex
The premotor cortex is an area of motor cortex lying within the frontal lobe of the brain. It extends 3 mm anterior to the primary motor cortex, near the Sylvian fissure, before narrowing to approximately 1 mm near the medial longitudinal fissure, which serves as the posterior border for...
, which is part of the frontal cortex
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobe is an area in the brain of humans and other mammals, located at the front of each cerebral hemisphere and positioned anterior to the parietal lobe and superior and anterior to the temporal lobes...
of the primate brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
.
Function
The cortical area called frontal eye fields (FEF) plays an important role in the control of visual attention and eye movements . Electrical stimulation in the FEF elicits saccadic eye movements. The FEF have a topographic structure and represents saccade targets in retinotopic coordinates..The frontal eye field is reported to be activated during the initiation of eye movements, such as voluntary saccades and pursuit eye movements
Pursuit movement
Smooth pursuit eye movements allow the eyes to closely follow a moving object. It is one of two ways that visual animals can voluntarily shift gaze, the other being saccadic eye movements. Pursuit differs from the vestibulo-ocular reflex, which only occurs during movements of the head and serves to...
. There is also evidence that it plays a role in purely sensory processing and that it belongs to a “fast brain” system through a superior colliculus
Superior colliculus
The optic tectum or simply tectum is a paired structure that forms a major component of the vertebrate midbrain. In mammals this structure is more commonly called the superior colliculus , but, even in mammals, the adjective tectal is commonly used. The tectum is a layered structure, with a...
– medial dorsal nucleus
Medial dorsal nucleus
The medial dorsal nucleus is a large nucleus in the thalamus.It is believed to play a role in memory.-Anatomy:...
– FEF ascending pathway.
In humans, its earliest activations in regard to visual stimuli occur at 45 ms with activations related to changes in visual stimuli within 45–60 ms (these are comparable with response times in the primary visual cortex).
This fast brain pathway also provides auditory input at even shorter times starting at 24 ms and being affected by auditory characteristics at 30–60 ms.
The FEF constitutes together with the supplementary eye fields
Supplementary eye fields
Supplementary eye fields are areas on the dorsal-medial surface of frontal lobe of the primate brain that are involved in planning and control of saccadic eye movements. The SEF was first characterized by John Schlag and colleagues as an area where low intensity electrical stimulation can evoke...
(SEF), the intraparietal sulcus
Intraparietal sulcus
The intraparietal sulcus is located on the lateral surface of the parietal lobe, and consists of an oblique and a horizontal portion. The IPS contains a series of functionally distinct subregions that have been intensively investigated using both single cell neurophysiology in primates and human...
(IPS) and the superior colliculus
Superior colliculus
The optic tectum or simply tectum is a paired structure that forms a major component of the vertebrate midbrain. In mammals this structure is more commonly called the superior colliculus , but, even in mammals, the adjective tectal is commonly used. The tectum is a layered structure, with a...
(SC) one of the most important brain areas involved in the generation and control of eye movements, particularly in the direction contralateral to the frontal eye fields' location.
See also
- Saccadic eye movement
- Pursuit movementPursuit movementSmooth pursuit eye movements allow the eyes to closely follow a moving object. It is one of two ways that visual animals can voluntarily shift gaze, the other being saccadic eye movements. Pursuit differs from the vestibulo-ocular reflex, which only occurs during movements of the head and serves to...
- Supplementary eye fieldsSupplementary eye fieldsSupplementary eye fields are areas on the dorsal-medial surface of frontal lobe of the primate brain that are involved in planning and control of saccadic eye movements. The SEF was first characterized by John Schlag and colleagues as an area where low intensity electrical stimulation can evoke...
- IPSIntraparietal sulcusThe intraparietal sulcus is located on the lateral surface of the parietal lobe, and consists of an oblique and a horizontal portion. The IPS contains a series of functionally distinct subregions that have been intensively investigated using both single cell neurophysiology in primates and human...
/ LIP