Assistant Professor, Depts of Physiology & Pharmacology, and Psychology

My lab is interested in how the brain controls movement. To address this question, we utilize both behavioural and neurophysiological techniques, examining the oculomotor system which rapidly changes our line of sight. The ultimate goal of this research is to gain a better understanding of the sensorimotor transformations underlying natural movements.

The Oculomotor Control Laboratory is headed by Dr. Brian Corneil, and combines neurophysiological and behavioural techniques to investigate the neural control of movement. Accurate movements require complex sensori-motor interactions, integrating current body configuration with high-level signals detailing the specifics of the desired movement. The major goal of the lab is to understand how the brain accomplishes these feats in a seemingly effortless way.

Eye-head gaze shifts, which rapidly change the line of sight, serve as our model system. These movements are controlled by the oculomotor system, which has traditionally provided an excellent window into brain function. By studying this system, we hope to gain a better understanding of brain physiology and ultimately brain pathology.

Recent Publications:

Corneil, B.D., Elsley, J.K., Nagy, B., & Cushing, S.L. (2010). Motor output evoked by sub-saccadic stimuaton of primate frontal eye fields. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107, 6070-6075.

Nagy, B. & Corneil, B.D. (2010). Representation of horizontal head-on-body position in the primate superior colliculus. Journal of Neurophysiololgy, 103, 858-874.

Rezvani, S. & Corneil, B.D. (2008). Recruitment of a head turning synergy by low-frequency activity in the primate superior colliculus. Journal of Neurophysiology, 100, 397-411.