Eyelid Reflex Response to Stretch

AMONG the evidence of consciousness in the human subject, the position of the upper eyelid fulfils a significant role, and varies with the degree of attention 1 . It is of interest, therefore, to understand the mechanisms causing eyelid movement and particularly the relationship of local automatic reflexes to-this function. Consciousness generally also invokes much ocular work both of movement and of visual function, but it has been found that the muscles controlling the position of the eye do not appear to possess simple stretch reflexes 2 , nor does proprioceptive information appear to reach a conscious level 3 .