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Photograph of Stephen Heinen
Heinen Lab

Steve Heinen

Senior Scientist
Degrees: Ph.D.

Our laboratory studies how visual perception and cognition guide the smooth pursuit eye movement system. The goal of our research is to provide information about basic neural mechanisms that drive this system that will aid in the diagnosis and treatment of vision and eye movement disorders. Basic knowledge about brain function obtained through this work should generalize to help better understand devastating disorders that affect movement and perception such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's diseases.

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Journal Articles
A covered eye fails to follow an object moving in depth. (2021). A covered eye fails to follow an object moving in depth. Scientific Reports, 11. http://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-90371-8
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Human Eye Movements Reveal Video Frame Importance. (2019). Human Eye Movements Reveal Video Frame Importance. Computer, 52(5), 48–57. http://doi.org/10.1109/MC.2019.2903246
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A common mechanism modulates saccade timing during pursuit and fixation. (2019). A common mechanism modulates saccade timing during pursuit and fixation. Journal Of Neurophysiology .
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Foveated convolutional neural networks for video summarization. (2018). Foveated convolutional neural networks for video summarization. Multimedia Tools And Applications, 77(22), 29245-29267. http://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-018-5953-1
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Choosing a foveal goal recruits the saccadic system during smooth pursuit. (2018). Choosing a foveal goal recruits the saccadic system during smooth pursuit. Journal Of Neurophysiology , 120(2), 489-496. http://doi.org/ 10.1152/jn.00418.2017
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A Subconscious Interaction between Fixation and Anticipatory Pursuit. (2017). A Subconscious Interaction between Fixation and Anticipatory Pursuit. Journal Of Neuroscience, 37(47), 11424-11430. http://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2186-17.2017
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Illusory motion reveals velocity matching, not foveation, drives smooth pursuit of large objects. (2017). Illusory motion reveals velocity matching, not foveation, drives smooth pursuit of large objects. Journal Of Vision, 17(12).
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Monocular and Binocular Smooth Pursuit in Central Field Loss. (2017). Monocular and Binocular Smooth Pursuit in Central Field Loss. Vision Research.
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Smooth pursuit eye movements in patients with macular degeneration. (2016). Smooth pursuit eye movements in patients with macular degeneration. Journal Of Vision, 16, 1.
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A foveal target increases catch-up saccade frequency during smooth pursuit. (2015). A foveal target increases catch-up saccade frequency during smooth pursuit. Journal Of Neurophysiology, jn–00774.
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A mechanism for decision rule discrimination by supplementary eye field neurons. (2015). A mechanism for decision rule discrimination by supplementary eye field neurons. Experimental Brain Research, 233, 459–476.
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Allocation of attention during pursuit of large objects is no different than during fixation. (2015). Allocation of attention during pursuit of large objects is no different than during fixation. Journal Of Vision, 15, 9–9.
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Different time scales of motion integration for anticipatory smooth pursuit and perceptual adaptation. (2015). Different time scales of motion integration for anticipatory smooth pursuit and perceptual adaptation. Journal Of Vision, 15, 16.
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Contrasting the roles of the supplementary and frontal eye fields in ocular decision making. (2014). Contrasting the roles of the supplementary and frontal eye fields in ocular decision making. Journal Of Neurophysiology, 111, 2644–2655.
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Motion Integration for Ocular Pursuit Does Not Hinder Perceptual Segregation of Moving Objects. (2014). Motion Integration for Ocular Pursuit Does Not Hinder Perceptual Segregation of Moving Objects. The Journal Of Neuroscience, 34, 5835–5841.
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Shared attention for smooth pursuit and saccades. (2013). Shared attention for smooth pursuit and saccades. Journal Of Vision, 13, 7.
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Flexibility of foveal attention during ocular pursuit. (2011). Flexibility of foveal attention during ocular pursuit. Journal Of Vision, 11, 9.
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Flexible interpretation of a decision rule by supplementary eye field neurons. (2011). Flexible interpretation of a decision rule by supplementary eye field neurons. Journal Of Neurophysiology, 106, 2992–3000.
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The default allocation of attention is broadly ahead of smooth pursuit. (2010). The default allocation of attention is broadly ahead of smooth pursuit. Journal Of Vision, 10, 7.
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The effects of microstimulation of the dorsomedial frontal cortex on saccade latency. (2008). The effects of microstimulation of the dorsomedial frontal cortex on saccade latency. Journal Of Neurophysiology, 99, 1857–1870.
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Oculomotor Hide and Seek: Pursuing an Accelerating Target Behind an Occluder. Focus on “Target Acceleration Can Be Extracted and Represented Within the Predictive Drive to Ocular Pursuit”. (2007). Oculomotor Hide and Seek: Pursuing an Accelerating Target Behind an Occluder. Focus on “Target Acceleration Can Be Extracted and Represented Within the Predictive Drive to Ocular Pursuit”. Journal Of Neurophysiology, 98, 1073–1074.
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Storage of an oculomotor motion aftereffect. (2007). Storage of an oculomotor motion aftereffect. Vision Research, 47, 466–473.
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An oculomotor decision process revealed by functional magnetic resonance imaging. (2006). An oculomotor decision process revealed by functional magnetic resonance imaging. The Journal Of Neuroscience, 26, 13515–13522.
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Anticipatory movement timing using prediction and external cues. (2006). Anticipatory movement timing using prediction and external cues. The Journal Of Neuroscience, 26, 4519–4525.
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Neuroscience: rewiring the adult brain. (2005). Neuroscience: rewiring the adult brain. Nature, 438, E3–E3.
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Properties of saccades generated as a choice response. (2005). Properties of saccades generated as a choice response. Experimental Brain Research, 162, 278–286.
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Timing and velocity randomization similarly affect anticipatory pursuit. (2005). Timing and velocity randomization similarly affect anticipatory pursuit. Journal Of Vision, 5, 1.
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Trajectory interpretation by supplementary eye field neurons during ocular baseball. (2005). Trajectory interpretation by supplementary eye field neurons during ocular baseball. Journal Of Neurophysiology, 94, 1385–1391.
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Supplementary eye fields stimulation facilitates anticipatory pursuit. (2004). Supplementary eye fields stimulation facilitates anticipatory pursuit. Journal Of Neurophysiology, 92, 1257–1262.
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Perceptual and oculomotor evidence of limitations on processing accelerating motion. (2003). Perceptual and oculomotor evidence of limitations on processing accelerating motion. Journal Of Vision, 3, 698-709.
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Smooth pursuit eye movements: Recent advances. (2003). Smooth pursuit eye movements: Recent advances. The Visual Neurosciences (Chalupa Lm, Werner Js, Eds), 333–334.
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Facilitation of smooth pursuit initiation by electrical stimulation in the supplementary eye fields. (2001). Facilitation of smooth pursuit initiation by electrical stimulation in the supplementary eye fields. Journal Of Neurophysiology, 86, 2413–2425.
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Human smooth pursuit direction discrimination. (1999). Human smooth pursuit direction discrimination. Vision Research, 39, 59–70.
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Spatial integration in human smooth pursuit. (1998). Spatial integration in human smooth pursuit. Vision Research, 38, 3785–3794.
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Single-neuron activity in the dorsomedial frontal cortex during smooth-pursuit eye movements to predictable target motion. (1997). Single-neuron activity in the dorsomedial frontal cortex during smooth-pursuit eye movements to predictable target motion. Visual Neuroscience, 14, 853–865.
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The function of the cerebellar uvula in monkey during optokinetic and pursuit eye movements: single-unit responses and lesion effects. (1996). The function of the cerebellar uvula in monkey during optokinetic and pursuit eye movements: single-unit responses and lesion effects. Experimental Brain Research, 110, 1–14.
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Single neuron activity in the dorsomedial frontal cortex during smooth pursuit eye movements. (1995). Single neuron activity in the dorsomedial frontal cortex during smooth pursuit eye movements. Experimental Brain Research, 104, 357–361.
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Adaptation of saccades and fixation to bilateral foveal lesions in adult monkey. (1992). Adaptation of saccades and fixation to bilateral foveal lesions in adult monkey. Vision Research, 32, 365–373.
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Cerebellar uvula involvement in visual motion processing and smooth pursuit control in monkey. (1992). Cerebellar uvula involvement in visual motion processing and smooth pursuit control in monkey. Annals Of The New York Academy Of Sciences, 656, 775–782.
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Characteristics of nystagmus evoked by electrical stimulation of the uvular/nodular lobules of the cerebellum in monkey. (1991). Characteristics of nystagmus evoked by electrical stimulation of the uvular/nodular lobules of the cerebellum in monkey. Journal Of Vestibular Research: Equilibrium & Orientation, 2, 235–245.
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Generation of smooth-pursuit eye movements: neuronal mechanisms and pathways. (1991). Generation of smooth-pursuit eye movements: neuronal mechanisms and pathways. Neuroscience Research, 11, 79–107.
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Recovery of visual responses in foveal V1 neurons following bilateral foveal lesions in adult monkey. (1991). Recovery of visual responses in foveal V1 neurons following bilateral foveal lesions in adult monkey. Experimental Brain Research, 83, 670–674.
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Conference Papers
Evidence of a timing mechanism for predictive smooth pursuit in frontal cortex. (1994). Evidence of a timing mechanism for predictive smooth pursuit in frontal cortex. In Contemporary Oculomotor and Vestibular Research: A Tribute to David A Robinson.
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Presentations/Posters
Gaze Changes from Binocular to Monocular Viewing during Smooth Pursuit in Macular Degeneration. (2016). Gaze Changes from Binocular to Monocular Viewing during Smooth Pursuit in Macular Degeneration. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.
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Do we foveate targets during smooth pursuit?. (2016). Do we foveate targets during smooth pursuit?.
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Relative Eye Position During Monocular and Binocular Pursuit in Central Field Loss. (2016). Relative Eye Position During Monocular and Binocular Pursuit in Central Field Loss.
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Evaluation of Smooth Pursuit in Individuals with Central Field Loss. (2015). Evaluation of Smooth Pursuit in Individuals with Central Field Loss. European Conference on Eye Movements. Vienna, Austria: Vienna, Austria.
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Characteristics of Monocular Smooth Pursuit in Central Field Loss. (2015). Characteristics of Monocular Smooth Pursuit in Central Field Loss.
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Other Publications
Patterns of eye movement adaptation to foveal lesions in adult primates. (1993). Patterns of eye movement adaptation to foveal lesions in adult primates. In Walker, M. F., FitzGibbon, E. J., & Goldberg, M. E. (1994). Contemporary Oculomotor and Vestibular Research: A Tribute to David A Robinson.
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Active
Active

Attentive and inattentive mechanisms of smooth pursuit

TBD.

Active

Conjugate and Disconjugate control of binocular eye movements

TBD.

Active

Miniature Eye Movements of Fixation and Smooth Pursuit

TBD

Active

Characteristics of Smooth Pursuit in Individuals with Central Field Loss

This project investigates the properties of smooth pursuit eye movements in individuals with macular degeneration. Commonly believed to be a fovea-linked eye movement, smooth pursuit has not been previously investigated in individuals with central field loss, despite its importance for tracking moving objects, such as vehicles or pedestrians on a busy street.

Completed
Completed

Go and Nogo Decision Making

The decision to make or withhold a saccade has been studied extensively using a go-nogo paradigm, but little is known about the decision process underlying pursuit of moving objects. Prevailing models describe pursuit as a feedback system that responds reactively to a moving stimulus. However, situations often arise in which it is disadvantageous to pursue, and humans can decide not to pursue an object just because it moves. This project explores mechanisms underlying the decision to pursue or maintain fixation. Our paradigm, ocular baseball, involves a target that moves from the periphery toward a central zone called the "plate".

Completed

Integration and Segregation

Traditionally, smooth pursuit research has explored how eye movements are generated to follow small, isolated targets that fit within the fovea. Objects in a natural scene, however, are often larger and extend to peripheral retina. They also have components that move in different directions or at different speeds (e.g., wings, legs). To generate a single velocity command for smooth pursuit, motion information from the components must be integrated. Simultaneously, it may be necessary to attend to features of the object while pursuing it.

Contact Information
Email: heinen@ski.org
Email: heinen@ski.org
Office Phone: (415) 345-2101
Lab Phone: (415) 345-2101
Mobile Phone: (415) 345-2101
Fax: (415) 345-2101
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