title: Smooth pursuit development in infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shawkat
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development; D004585:Electrooculography; D019416:Head Movements; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011698:Pursuit, Smooth / Q000502:physiology*; D012438:Saccades / Q000502:physiology