Oculomotor control systems

• More on eye movements by Francine Shapiro, 11/14/97
  • Study Why EMDR Works by Gil Levin, 11/15/97
    
    

I took the Level I EMDR training, use the technique, and am a believer. I also did my dissertation work on an attentional/cognitive aspect of eye movements, and in the process learned a bit about how oculomotor control works. At least three very different brain loci mediate different eye movements: the oculocephalic reflex (moving the head and body while fixing the eyes on an object) in brainstem; saccades in the superior colliculi; and tracking in the frontal eye fields, very large areas of frontal cortex. My pet theory about the mechanism of EMDR effects is that activating the frontal eye fields generates increased inhibition of limbic areas in paleocortex. That would be the brain-level effect corresponding to the subjective effect of emotions being calmed and cognitions being "un-frozen." I haven't yet taken the time to search the Shapiro texts or the discussion here to see if these ideas are already in the air, or if research is underway along these lines. Can you enlighten me?

• Oculomotor theories by Shapiro, 3/30/98