The mouse visual system has become the most popular model to study the cellular and circuit mechanisms of sensory processing. However, the importance of eye movements only started to be appreciated recently. Eye movements provide a basis for predictive sensing and deliver insights into various brain functions and dysfunctions. A plethora of knowledge on the central control of eye movements and their role in perception and behaviour arose from work on primates. However, an overview of various eye movements in mice and a comparison to primates is missing.
Eleonora Ambrad Giovannetti – post-doc, and Ede Rancz – Cortical Circuits team leader review the eye movement types described to date in mice and compare them to those observed in primates. They discuss the central neuronal mechanisms for their generation and control. Furthermore, they review the mounting literature on eye movements in mice during head-fixed and freely moving behaviours. Finally, they highlight gaps in our understanding and suggest future directions for research.