Highlights d Spino-extraocular motor coupling is evidenced from newborn mice ex vivo preparation d Adult decerebrated mice exhibit conjugated rhythmic eye movements during locomotion d Locomotor-induced oculomotor activity occurs in absence of visuo-vestibular inputs d Conserved CPG-based efference copy signal in vertebrates with common features

We report a functional coupling between spinal locomotor and oculomotor networks in the mouse, similar to the one previously described in amphibians. This is the first evidence for the direct contribution of locomotor networks to gaze control in mammals, suggesting a conservation of the spino-extraocular coupling in higher tetrapods during sustained locomotion.