Shifty Eyes Are Just Fine

Our eyes constantly adjust to our environment; they are the least likely of all our body parts to sit still. We usually don't notice this. Typically our eyes move to and fro without a care in the world. But have you ever stopped to think what makes our eyes work? How is it our eyes know when to move when we want them to?

The Neuron Connection
Our eyes move just like any other part of our body, instinctively. A recent study by the University of Pittsburgh and the National Eye Institute explain that some people's eyes however, shirt involuntarily. The researchers believe it has something to do with the circuitry of the eyes and their link to the brain.

Studies of the eye's circuitry are not new. In 1950 Roger Sperry, a Nobel laureate, suggested the brain sends an internal copy of a signal when it commands the eye to move. This copy goes to the visual system. Later scientists showed that this discharge may result in sudden changes in the eyes or in the receptive field.

The latest study, published in Nature, suggest there are receptive fields in the cortex of the brain that shift resulting from the discharge the brain sends to the visual system when the eyes move.

Scientists are not yet done researching this phenomenon however. In the future researchers plan to start testing the visual stability theory. This will help decide whether receptive fields in the visual cortex or in the brain are responsible for visual stability. Their findings could help those with "shifty" eyes. Meanwhile, it seems there is nothing wrong with those with shifty eyes. It's a natural part of living.

Related Articles:

• Eye Twitching - What It Is, Why You Get It And How To Cope
• Eye Exercises To Improve Vision
• How to Maintain Healthy Eyes
• Tips for Improving Your Vision Naturally

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