Which cortical area is responsible for the voluntary control of conjugate horizontal gaze to the contralateral side, such that damage results in ipsilateral gaze deviation (eyes deviate toward the lesion)?

• A Frontal eye field (area 8) in the posterior frontal lobe ✓
• B Primary visual cortex (area 17)
• C Supplementary motor area (area 6 medial)
• D Parietal cortex (area 40)

Explanation

The frontal eye field (Brodmann area 8, posterior frontal lobe) projects to the contralateral pontine paramedian reticular formation (PPRF) to generate voluntary horizontal saccades to the opposite side. A destructive lesion in the right frontal eye field causes the eyes to deviate toward the right (ipsilateral to the lesion) because the right PPRF is no longer being driven to look left. An irritative lesion (seizure) in the same area causes contralateral deviation.

Reference: BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy, 8th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.