08/19/2026
Have you had a Videonystagmography done. Dr. Carrick from the Carrick Institute presents why it's so important
🧠 Can training eye movements help the brain recover after a stroke?
Eye movements are often thought of as a way to assess vision. But they're much more than that.
Every purposeful eye movement activates a network of brain regions involved in attention, motor planning, sensory integration, and neuroplasticity. Because these pathways extend far beyond the eyes, targeted eye-movement training may influence neurological function in ways that reach the cortex itself.
In a randomized controlled trial, Carrick FR, Oggero E, Pagnacco G, Wright CH, Machado C, Estrada G, Pando A, Cossio JC, and Beltrán C. investigated whether eye-movement training could benefit patients with acute middle cerebral artery ischemic stroke.
The researchers found that participants who received eye-movement training demonstrated measurable changes in quantitative EEG (qEEG) and improvements in NIH Stroke Scale scores, suggesting changes in brain activity accompanied by improved neurological function.
The study reminds us that rehabilitation isn't always about strengthening muscles or restoring movement alone. Carefully selected sensory input—including eye movements—may engage distributed neural networks that support recovery and neuroplasticity.
Our infographic highlights how this research expands the conversation around vision, brain function, and neurological rehabilitation.
💬 How do these findings influence the way you think about the role of eye movements in neurorehabilitation following stroke?
Reference
Carrick FR, Oggero E, Pagnacco G, Wright CH, Machado C, Estrada G, Pando A, Cossio JC, Beltrán C. Eye-Movement Training Results in Changes in qEEG and NIH Stroke Scale in Subjects Suffering from Acute Middle Cerebral Artery Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized Control Trial. Frontiers in Neurology. 2016;7:3. doi:10.3389/fneur.2016.00003.
