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Corollary Discharge and Oculomotor Proprioception: Two Mechanisms for Spatially Accurate Perception and Action

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Abstract

Our eyes are in constant motion, therefore, so we cannot solely use retinal information to determine the location of objects in space. Our ability to maintain a stable representation of the world despite a constantly moving eye is a phenomenon that has yet to be fully explained. However, two different mechanisms have been proposed as possible solutions. First, a corollary discharge of the eyes’ motor command as the eyes move about, was proposed by Herman von Helmholtz. On the other hand, a spatial representation via proprioceptive signals from nerve endings of eye muscles was proposed by Sir Charles Sherrington. We hypothesize that both mechanisms are used by the brain to achieve spatial accuracy and we present experimental results that support both ideas. While corollary discharge remaps the spatial representation even before an impeding saccade, oculomotor proprioception establishes an accurate spatial representation well after the saccade.

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Author notes

  1. Vincent Sanchez and Wangzikang Zhang have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mahoney-Keck Center for Brain and Behavior Research, Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Vincent Sanchez, Wangzikang Zhang, Linus D. Sun & Michael E. Goldberg

  2. Departments of Neurology, and Ophthalmology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Linus D. Sun & Michael E. Goldberg

  3. Division of Neurobiology and Behavior, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Vincent Sanchez, Wangzikang Zhang, Linus D. Sun & Michael E. Goldberg

  4. Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Michael E. Goldberg

Authors
  1. Vincent Sanchez
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  2. Wangzikang Zhang
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  3. Linus D. Sun
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  4. Michael E. Goldberg
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Correspondence to Michael E. Goldberg.

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Sanchez, V., Zhang, W., Sun, L.D. et al. Corollary Discharge and Oculomotor Proprioception: Two Mechanisms for Spatially Accurate Perception and Action. J Indian Inst Sci 97, 533–542 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41745-017-0050-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41745-017-0050-4

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