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Nirvighnam_noor OP t1_ivuc1wn wrote

Reply to comment by GeriatricZergling in CN IV AND VI evolution? by Nirvighnam_noor

https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:b4e8a211-ea54-3cca-b7db-bea38df5c65b Read last paragraph on page 4 on left side you will see that we can deduce similarities based on the fact that abducens nerve controls the lateral rectus muscle and as usually in most organisms eye remains in the centre but to look for a predator lurking on the lateral extremities of the field(which I think they usually do to escape the prey's visual field) a quick and precise response from the muscle pulling the eye on the lateral side might help in spotting the predator quickly. So a separate nerve controlling the muscle might give the added control that one nerve controlling all the muscles might not be able to provide some similar explanation might be given for the superior oblique being controlled by the trochlear nerve.

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GeriatricZergling t1_ivud7b2 wrote

The link is broken. But that rationale sounds weak - why would a separate nerve improve either response time or control? Is there actual evidence that the lateral rectus response faster or with greater precision than the rest of the oculomotor nerves, either in humans or other species?

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