Eye Tracking Application to Understand the Visual Control of Locomotion

Visual information is crucial for safe locomotion because it allows individuals to adjust their stepping patterns to deal with environmental demands. Deficits in the ability to visually sample the environment expose walkers to an increased risk of falling, which have motivated researchers to investigate the visual control of locomotion. Portable eye tracking technologies allow researchers to quantify eye movements and determine how, when and what individuals look at during locomotion. However, appropriate methodological approaches are required to understand the complex link between eye movements and locomotion. This book chapter explores methodological aspects required to assess the visual control of locomotion. To offer readers examples of how we applied eye tracking technologies to investigate the role of visual information during locomotor tasks, we revisit two previous studies published by our group involving older adults and patients with Parkinson’s disease.