This chapter considers the primary method used in studying the binocular control of gaze while an unrestrained subject viewed close target objects. Also presented here is the first comparative analysis of two types of oculomotor performance: performance in a head-free condition versus performance in a "bite board" (head fixed condition). The subjects made saccades between two stationary targets and tracked a target that moved both in a lateral direction and in depth. This chapter also shows that head-free saccades are faster than saccades made using the head on a bite board, and head-free threedimensional pursuit does not differ significantly from the pursuit with the head on a bite board. This work has concluded that it is feasible to record binocular gazed behaviors in unrestrained subjects. Another conclusion is that the performance of oculomotor control is excellent in generally natural conditions.

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doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195068207.003.0064, hdl.handle.net/1765/90535
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Collewijn, H., Steinman, R., Erkelens, C. J., Pizlo, Z., & van der Steen, H. (2012). Effect of Freeing the Head on Eye Movement Characteristics during Three-Dimensional Shifts of Gaze and Tracking. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195068207.003.0064