Pursuit eye movements in goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Abstract

Pursuit eye movements made by goldfish were investigated with an optical technique in which the horizontal orientations of both eyes were measured automatically. Moving targets were provided by: 1. (1) a striped drum which rotated about the vertical axis concentrically with the animal's head, and2. (2) tangent screens on either side. Movement seen by either eye alone caused both to move, but the response was greater when both viewed the drum. The angular velocities of the eyes were always less than that of the drum. The ocular velocity depended upon the velocity, area, and contrast of the target, over wide ranges, and upon the state of adaptation and the recent history of the visual system. Evidence is offered supporting the hypothesis that the pursuit movements are controlled by directionally-selective movement-sensitive retinal ganglion cells.