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. 1997 Aug;25(3):199-206.
doi: 10.1111/j.1442-9071.1997.tb01392.x.

Smooth pursuit development in infants

M Jacobs  1 , C M Harris, F Shawkat, D Taylor
Affiliations

Smooth pursuit development in infants

M Jacobs et al. Aust N Z J Ophthalmol. 1997 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: We set out to assess the development of pursuit eye movements in normal infants in an objective, longitudinal fashion. We asked whether smooth pursuit (SP) was present under 2 months of age and how the saccade ratio changed with increasing infant age.

Methods: Smooth pursuit was recorded longitudinally from 25 infants aged 1-7 months, using DC electro-oculography, in a clinically practical manner. Four uninstructed adults acted as controls.

Results: Smooth pursuit was present under 2 months of age. The gain of SP increased with increasing infant age. However, it had still not reached adult levels by 6 months of age. Latency decreased with increasing infant age. Monocular SP asymmetry was present in the younger infants.

Conclusions: Smooth pursuit is present under 2 months of age, but at 6 months SP has still not reached adult levels. The traditional model of SP development is questionable.

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