Frontal eye fields

Frontal Eye Fields

The Frontal Eye Fields (FEF) are areas located in the frontal lobes of the primate brain that are important for eye movements. They are part of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), which is responsible for the planning and execution of voluntary eye movements, particularly saccades.

File:Frontal Eye Fields.png

Location of the Frontal Eye Fields in the human brain

Anatomy

The FEF are located in the posterior part of the Brodmann area 8, which is found in the middle frontal gyrus in the frontal lobe. They are situated anterior to the premotor cortex and superior to the Broca's area. The FEF are interconnected with several other brain regions, including the superior colliculus, the parietal lobe, and the supplementary eye field.

Function

The FEF play a crucial role in the voluntary control of gaze, including the initiation and control of saccadic eye movements. They are also involved in the suppression of unwanted saccades, the coordination of head and eye movements, and the maintenance of visual fixation. The FEF receive visual, auditory, and somatosensory inputs, and they send outputs to the brainstem and spinal cord, which control the muscles responsible for eye and head movements.

Clinical significance

Damage to the FEF can result in various eye movement disorders, such as gaze palsy, nystagmus, and strabismus. In addition, FEF lesions can cause neglect syndrome, a condition characterized by the inability to attend to stimuli on the opposite side of the lesion.

See also

• Superior colliculus
• Saccade
• Eye movement in reading
• Eye movement in music reading
• Smooth pursuit

References

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