Whiplash effects on brain: Voluntary eye movements

Abstract

Saccades and smooth pursuit eye movements play an important role in the balance system. Essentially their aim is to free foveate animals from the slavery of oculomotor reflexes, such as vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) and optokinetic nystagmus (OKN). These voluntary eye movements enable the gaze to be rapidly redirected (saccades) or to slowly follow (smooth pursuit movements) new targets even when the head or surroundings are moving.