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How does the vestibulo-ocular reflex keep vision steady during head movement?

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Compound eye — Senses Vespid wasps (Vespidae), similar to other insects, have compound eyes that consist of thousands of tiny optical units known as ommatidia, which contain light-sensitive photoreceptor cells.

The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) stabilizes gaze by generating compensatory eye movements that counter head rotation, ensuring that an image remains stationary on the retina during movement.12

The process functions as follows:

Detection: When the head rotates, the semicircular canals in the inner ear detect the motion and send velocity signals to the brainstem.12
Signal Integration: These signals reach the oculomotor nuclei, which innervate the eye muscles. The brain integrates these velocity signals with information about eye position to ensure the eyes maintain a stable orientation relative to space.12
Compensatory Movement: The eye muscles rotate the eyes in the opposite direction of the head movement. For example, a rightward head rotation triggers an equal leftward rotation of the eyes, keeping the gaze fixed on the target.1

The cerebellum continuously monitors and adjusts the VOR to correct any mismatch between head movement and eye response, ensuring the reflex remains accurate throughout life.3