Control of Ocular Movements and Visual Interpretation of Environment

EVIDENCE1has been advanced that the eye lacks position sense; furthermore, evidence2has appeared that the muscle spindles found by Daniel3in the extraocular muscles do not effectively contribute to a position sense of the eye. Furthermore, in recent years substantial doubt has arisen as to whether muscles and tendons contribute to the position sense of skeletal muscle or whether this position sense is mediated chiefly or solely by the joint, or articular, sensitivity.4The problem thus arises as to how the individual controls his eyes and interprets the movement, or lack thereof, of environment when he is not consciously aware of the position of his eyes. It is with this problem that the present paper is concerned. The classic explanation for the control of bodily movements, including eye movements, is by means of what has been characterized as the ``proprioceptivepyramidal circuit.5'' The expression "feedback"