Neural Processing During Sequential Saccades
NEI - National Eye Institute
About This Grant
Project Summary/Abstract Visually scanning the environment requires a series of rapid eye movements, known as saccades, interspersed with brief fixations, highlighting the remarkable speed of the brain’s oculomotor system. This raises fundamental questions about whether the brain plans each saccade sequentially or plans future movements before completing the current one. If the latter is true, this suggests that the brain must compute the amplitude and direction of the future movement while accounting for the first saccade before it is even initiated. This proposed research investigates the neural processing of the superior colliculus (SC) and frontal eye fields (FEF) – crucial nodes in the oculomotor circuit – during the generation of sequential saccades. The FEF, associated with cognitive processes like memory, and the SC, responsible for producing corollary discharge signals, communicate bidirectionally to compute saccade metrics. Using laminar multicontact probes, I will simultaneously record neural activity from the FEF and SC as rhesus macaques perform tasks designed in a 2x2 framework, involving single or two sequential saccades, in visually- or memory-guided domains. Advanced computational analyses will quantify the timing, directionality, and representation of neural communication between these regions, specifically testing the hypothesis that communication between the FEF and SC is enhanced during periods of increased cognitive processing (Aim 1). Furthermore, suprathreshold stimulation of the SC after prolonged fixation evokes a site-specific saccade, but stimulation immediately after a saccade does not produce this movement. The oculomotor system requires ~250 ms to reset after a saccade, aligning with typical intersaccadic intervals during visual scanning. I will apply electrical stimulation to the SC and FEF to test this phenomenon in tasks requiring sequential saccades. Specifically, this work will test the hypothesis that if sequential saccades are treated as a unified action, the resetting of the saccadic system should start with the second saccade (Aim 2). This proposed research will uncover the neural signatures associated with executing sequences of movements, providing fundamental insights into the neural mechanisms of sensorimotor integration. These findings may also inform treatments for conditions that disrupt eye movement control, such as neurodegenerative diseases and traumatic brain injury.
Grant Summary
Neural Processing During Sequential Saccades is a NEI - National Eye Institute grant providing up to $50K for university, nonprofit, healthcare org. Applications are due 2028-11-30 (open). Check eligibility and apply with FindGrants.
Focus Areas
Eligibility
How to Apply
Up to $50K
2028-11-30
- 1Confirm your organization is eligible for Neural Processing During Sequential Saccades from NEI - National Eye Institute, checking organization type, location, and any population or project requirements.
- 2Gather the required documents and information, including your organization details, project plan, and budget figures.
- 3Draft your application narrative and budget addressing the funder's priorities and review criteria. FindGrants can draft each section for you to review and edit.
- 4Review every section against the requirements checklist, then export a submission-ready application pack and submit it to NEI - National Eye Institute before the deadline.
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Neural Processing During Sequential Saccades: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Neural Processing During Sequential Saccades?
Neural Processing During Sequential Saccades is offered by NEI - National Eye Institute and is generally open to university, nonprofit, healthcare org. It is open to organizations nationwide unless the funder specifies otherwise. Review the specific eligibility terms before applying, since funders set their own requirements around organization type, location, and the population or project being served.
How much funding does the Neural Processing During Sequential Saccades provide?
Neural Processing During Sequential Saccades provides up to $50K per award from NEI - National Eye Institute. Actual award sizes depend on the scope of your project, available program funds, and the number of applicants, so build a budget that reflects realistic, allowable costs rather than the maximum figure.
When is the Neural Processing During Sequential Saccades deadline?
Applications for Neural Processing During Sequential Saccades are due 2028-11-30 (open). Because deadlines can change, verify the date with the funder, NEI - National Eye Institute, and give yourself enough time to prepare a complete, competitive application before the close date.
How do you apply for the Neural Processing During Sequential Saccades?
To apply for Neural Processing During Sequential Saccades, confirm your eligibility, gather the required documents, and prepare a narrative and budget that address the funder's priorities. FindGrants guides you step by step and can draft each section, then exports a submission-ready application pack for this grant from NEI - National Eye Institute.