Supplementary eye fields

Abstract

The supplementary eye fields (SEFs) are located in dorsomedial frontal cortex and contribute to high-level control of eye movements. Recordings in the SEF reveal visual-, saccade-, and fixation-related activity, and stimulations in the SEF evoke saccades and fixations. Inactivations and lesions of the SEF, however, cause minimal oculomotor deficits. The SEF thus processes information relevant to eye movements and influences critical oculomotor centers but seems unnecessary for generating action. Instead, the SEF has overarching, subtle functions that include representing space in multiple ways, supervising behavior, monitoring conflict, prediction, learning, planning sequences, and coordination of the limbs and eyes. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.