Eye Movements: A Window into Cognition and Healing

For many years, eye movements were believed to be passive responses to visual stimuli—simple mechanical adjustments to optimize focus. But current neuroscience paints a very different picture. Far from being mere reflexes, eye movements play an active, functional role in perception, memory, decision-making, and motor coordination. They do not simply reflect what we see; they actively shape how we think, remember, and behave.

Research shows that various types of eye movements—such as saccades, microsaccades, and drifts—are tightly linked to neural circuits in the brain. These movements are controlled by a network that includes both cortical and subcortical structures, such as the frontal eye fields and the superior colliculus (Giovannetti & Rancz, 2024; Hafed et al., 2021). These brain regions don’t just direct gaze—they integrate motor signals with sensory and cognitive information. In this way, eye movements are embedded within a much larger system that orchestrates perception and action.

Beyond their role in vision, eye movements have been shown to support complex cognitive functions. During memory recall or decision-making tasks, people often make eye movements that mimic the original visual experience. This process, sometimes referred to as “gaze replay,” can help reconstruct or stabilize internal representations (Korda et al., 2024; Viganò et al., 2024). Even when people are not actively looking at anything new—such as during fixation—their subtle eye movements are modulated by top-down cognitive control, shaped by attention and task demands (Lin et al., 2023).

These insights extend into natural behaviors. In everyday life, eye movements are tightly coordinated with the rest of the body. When we reach for an object, our eyes and hands move in sync. This coordination isn’t coincidental—it’s evidence of a highly integrated sensory-motor system that supports goal-directed behavior (De Brouwer et al., 2021). Visual neurons in the cortex account for eye position, head tilt, and body orientation to help us make sense of the world as we move through it (Parker et al., 2022).

Moreover, eye movements influence how we perceive visual information. Studies have shown that saccadic movements and even microsaccades affect neural activity in the visual cortex, modulating sensitivity to spatial detail and contributing to the accuracy of object recognition (Niemeyer et al., 2022; Parker et al., 2022). In decision-making, eye movements are both reflective of internal deliberation and instrumental in accumulating and evaluating evidence (Spering, 2022; Wedel et al., 2022). They are deeply intertwined with attention and help filter the flood of incoming information to support adaptive choices.

This understanding of eye movements as functional rather than reactive has important implications for clinical psychology—especially in the use of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. EMDR is an established treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related conditions. A core element of EMDR is the use of bilateral eye movements during memory recall, which is believed to facilitate the brain’s natural capacity to process and integrate disturbing memories.

One of the leading explanations for EMDR’s effectiveness is the working memory theory. This model proposes that engaging in eye movements while recalling a traumatic memory taxes the brain’s limited working memory capacity. The dual task—recalling a vivid image while simultaneously tracking a moving stimulus—reduces the intensity and vividness of the memory (Landin-Romero et al., 2018; Mattera et al., 2022). Neuroimaging studies support this view, showing increased activity in the prefrontal cortex and decreased activity in the amygdala during EMDR, indicating a shift from emotional reactivity to cognitive control (Thomaes et al., 2016; Xu et al., 2023).

Another proposed mechanism is the orienting response, which refers to a physiological reaction to novel stimuli that initially increases alertness and is followed by a calming, parasympathetic response. Bilateral eye movements may trigger this sequence, leading to reduced autonomic arousal such as lower heart rate and skin conductance (Elofsson et al., 2008; Wilson et al., 1996). This relaxation phase helps create a window of safety in which traumatic memories can be processed without overwhelming emotional activation. Interestingly, this pattern is similar to what occurs during REM sleep, a state associated with memory consolidation and emotional regulation (Stickgold, 2002; Pagani et al., 2017).

Beyond memory desensitization, EMDR may also facilitate neural integration and reconsolidation. Traumatic memories often remain isolated from broader cognitive frameworks, resulting in persistent emotional reactivity. Eye movements may support the integration of these memories into more adaptive networks, making them less intrusive and distressing over time (Coubard, 2016; Landin-Romero et al., 2018). Functional imaging studies suggest this may involve enhanced communication between brain hemispheres and increased connectivity between memory-related areas such as the hippocampus and thalamus.

Emerging research also points to a more nuanced role of eye movements in enhancing information processing. Recent studies using EEG and neuroimaging indicate that bilateral stimulation may actually facilitate the flow of perceptual and cognitive information through cortical networks, improving the brain’s ability to process complex stimuli (Wang et al., 2024). This suggests that eye movements not only reduce emotional intensity but also enhance the brain’s efficiency in reorganizing fragmented or dysregulated memory traces.

Taken together, these findings build a compelling case that eye movements in EMDR are not symbolic or incidental—they are mechanistically essential. They act on multiple levels: reducing emotional distress, promoting relaxation, aiding memory integration, and enhancing cognitive processing. The therapy works not just because people talk about their trauma, but because eye movements catalyze real-time changes in the brain’s regulatory systems.

In conclusion, eye movements are far more than simple visual adjustments. They reflect the mind at work, revealing where attention is directed, how decisions are formed, and how memories are constructed. In EMDR therapy, these movements are harnessed to activate and accelerate the brain’s innate healing mechanisms, offering hope to individuals who have been stuck in cycles of trauma. As our understanding of eye movements deepens, so too does our appreciation for the mind-body connection—and for the profound intelligence behind every glance, shift, and blink.

References

Coubard, O. (2016). An Integrative Model for the Neural Mechanism of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00052

De Brouwer, A., Flanagan, J., & Spering, M. (2021). Functional Use of Eye Movements for an Acting System. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 25, 252–263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2020.12.006

Elofsson, U., Von Schéele, B., Theorell, T., & Söndergaard, H. (2008). Physiological correlates of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 22(4), 622–634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2007.05.012

Giovannetti, E., & Rancz, E. (2024). Behind mouse eyes: The function and control of eye movements in mice. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105671

Hafed, Z., Yoshida, M., Tian, X., Buonocore, A., & Malevich, T. (2021). Dissociable Cortical and Subcortical Mechanisms for Mediating the Influences of Visual Cues on Microsaccadic Eye Movements. Frontiers in Neural Circuits, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncir.2021.638429

Korda, Ž., Walcher, S., Körner, C., & Benedek, M. (2024). Internal coupling: Eye behavior coupled to visual imagery. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105855

Landin-Romero, R., Moreno-Alcázar, A., Pagani, M., & Amann, B. (2018). How Does Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy Work? A Systematic Review on Suggested Mechanisms of Action. Frontiers in Psychology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01395

Lin, Y., Intoy, J., Clark, A., Rucci, M., & Victor, J. (2023). Cognitive influences on fixational eye movements. Current Biology, 33(10), 1606–1612.e4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.03.026

Mattera, A., Cavallo, A., Granato, G., Baldassarre, G., & Pagani, M. (2022). A Biologically Inspired Neural Network Model to Gain Insight Into the Mechanisms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.944838

Niemeyer, J., Akers-Campbell, S., Gregoire, A., & Paradiso, M. (2022). Perceptual enhancement and suppression correlate with V1 neural activity during active sensing. Current Biology, 32(12), 2654–2667.e4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.04.067

Pagani, M., Amann, B., Landin-Romero, R., & Carletto, S. (2017). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and Slow Wave Sleep: A Putative Mechanism of Action. Frontiers in Psychology, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01935

Parker, P., Martins, D., Leonard, E., et al. (2022). A dynamic sequence of visual processing initiated by gaze shifts. Nature Neuroscience, 26, 2192–2202. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-023-01481-7

Spering, M. (2022). Eye Movements as a Window into Decision-Making. Annual Review of Vision Science. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-vision-100720-125029

Stickgold, R. (2002). EMDR: a putative neurobiological mechanism of action. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58(1), 61–75. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.1129

Thomaes, K., Engelhard, I., Sijbrandij, M., et al. (2016). Degrading traumatic memories with eye movements: A pilot fMRI study in PTSD. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 7. https://doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v7.31371

Viganò, S., Bayramova, R., Doeller, C., & Bottini, R. (2024). Spontaneous eye movements reflect the representational geometries of conceptual spaces. PNAS, 121. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2403858121

Wang, S., He, Y., Hu, J., et al. (2024). Eye movement intervention facilitates concurrent perception and memory processing. Cerebral Cortex, 34(5). https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhae190

Wedel, M., Pieters, R., & Van Der Lans, R. (2022). Modeling Eye Movements During Decision Making: A Review. Psychometrika, 88, 697–729. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11336-022-09876-4

Wilson, D., Silver, S., Covi, W., & Foster, S. (1996). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Effectiveness and autonomic correlates. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 27(3), 219–229. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7916(96)00026-2