burst neurons in the brainstem wire directly to the optic motor neurons, and essentially only have an on-off switch, with no intermediate level of control. Again, this can be demonstrated to yourself fairly intuitively–just try to move your eyes slowly in one direction, instead of in jumps.
I can’t consciously move my eyes smoothly, but it’s easy if I’m tracking a moving object. How does that work?
A very good question, and actually following up on this, it seems (broadly speaking) that trying to track something automatically goes into a different more elaborate circuit that does have feedback mechanisms and control. The demonstration I’d suggest is jsut picking up an object and moving it slowly while tracking it. Suddenly you can do it.
So, it seems I oversimplified in the post just writing something out of memory. It’s a kind of interesting limit on conscious control though==just trying to “move” your eyes clearly seems to be going somewhere different from “tracking” something.
(I’ve seen some vague reports on google about people claiming they can train themselves to go into takcing mode, but tough to say).
I can’t consciously move my eyes smoothly, but it’s easy if I’m tracking a moving object. How does that work?
A very good question, and actually following up on this, it seems (broadly speaking) that trying to track something automatically goes into a different more elaborate circuit that does have feedback mechanisms and control. The demonstration I’d suggest is jsut picking up an object and moving it slowly while tracking it. Suddenly you can do it.
So, it seems I oversimplified in the post just writing something out of memory. It’s a kind of interesting limit on conscious control though==just trying to “move” your eyes clearly seems to be going somewhere different from “tracking” something.
(I’ve seen some vague reports on google about people claiming they can train themselves to go into takcing mode, but tough to say).
We’re always tracking, even when the target is stationary.