the muscles that control the eye are driven by the optic tectum in the midbrain. all the voluntary muscles in the body are controlled by motor neurons in the spinal cord and hindbrain. spinal motor neurons are controlled by neural circuits of the spinal cord, and by inputs from the brain. the spinal circuits do many reflex responses, and also do rhythmic movements such as walking or swimming. the descending connections from the brain give more sophisticated control.