The long-term objective of this research is to study forebrain mechanisms responsible for the initiation of eye movements. During the present project period, the dynamics of cooperation between cortical oculomotor areas will be explored. Extracellular recordings from single neurons of the cerebral frontal and parietal lobes will be performed in alert monkeys. The neural signals will be analyzed in relation with eye and head movements measured by the magnetic search coil technique. The animals will be trained to acquire, pursue and anticipate visual targets presented on a screen in the dark and to search for visual cues. Single neuron activity will be monitored during reflex and voluntary movements.
The aim i s to understand how target location is encoded by the brain and how motor commands are derived to specify the goal of a targeting movement. Experiments will also be performed on human volunteers to examine the mechanisms of target localization near the time of ocular saccades.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01EY005879-35A1
Application #
2692614
Study Section
Visual Sciences B Study Section (VISB)
Project Start
1979-01-01
Project End
2001-09-29
Budget Start
1998-09-30
Budget End
1999-09-29
Support Year
35
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Los Angeles
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
119132785
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90095