Analysis of visual fixation, smooth pursuit and saccadic during observation of motor actions

• Grant number: 10/00455-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2011
• End date: October 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Schor
• Grantee: Paulo Schor
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Human brain circuit specializes in observe, understand and execute motion actions. Continuous and complex tasks activate muscle contraction after motor planning. It remains unknown how the oculomotor control (smooth pursuit and saccadic movements) follows a pattern in a trained situation. This study aims to analyze if a repeatable and specific visual sequence promotes a recognizable oculomotor pattern. Ocular movements produced by Professional (trained) athletes will be recorded and analyzed either in their specialty or in a correlated one, and compared to non athlete behavior. Addressed variables will be visual fixation, saccadic and smooth pursuit patterns during specific complex motor behavior observation. (AU)