Summary
Horizontal and vertical OKN and OKAN were recorded in four conditions using the EOG technique. Instructions to subjects were aimed at obtaining a “look” type OKN. Two optokinetic stimulators, a stationary sphere and a binocular portable model, were compared with the subject in the upright condition. Three posture orientations, upright, 90° roll (horizontal), and upside-down, were then compared using the portable stimulator to determine the effect of roll-axis tilt on OKN at three velocities and on OKAN. Vertical OKN asymmetry was found to increase in the 90° roll position and to tend toward a reversal in the upside-down position. The time constant of vertical OKAN with slow phase up increased in both the 90° roll and upside-down positions. And finally, cross-coupled vertical eye movements during and after horizontal OKN were clearly observed. These results confirm the data obtained in monkeys, and are in accordance with the hypothesis of a three-dimensional organization of the velocity storage mechanism.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baloh RW, Richman L, Yee RD, Honrubia V (1983) The dynamics of vertical eye movements in normal human subjects. Aviat Space Environ Med 54: 32–38
Benson AJ, Guedry FE (1971) Comparison of tracking-task performance and nystagmus during sinusoidal oscillation in yaw and pitch. Aerospace Med 42(6): 593–601
Buizza A, Léger A, Droulez J, Berthoz A, Schmid R (1980) Influence of otolithic stimulation by horizontal linear acceleration on optokinetic nystagmus and visual motion perception. Exp Brain Res 39: 165–176
Calhoun KH, Leliever WC, Correia MJ (1983) Effects of position change on optokinetic nystagmus and optokinetic after-nystagmus in man. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 91: 81–84
Chun KS, Robinson DA (1978) A model of quick phase generation in the vestibulo-ocular reflex. Biol Cybern 28: 209–221
Clément G, Berthoz A (1990) Cross-coupling between horizontal and vertical eye movements during optokinetic nystagmus and optokinetic afternystagmus elicited in microgravity. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 109: 179–187
Clément G, Viéville T, Lestienne F, Berthoz A (1986) Modifications of gain asymmetry and beating field of vertical optokinetic nystagmus in microgravity. Neurosci Lett 63: 271–274
Cohen B, Matsuo V, Raphan T (1977) Quantitative analysis of the velocity characteristics of optokinetic nystagmus and optokinetic after-nystagmus. J Physiol (Lond) 270: 321–344
Cohen B, Suzuki J, Raphan T (1983) Role of the otolith organs in the generation of horizontal nystagmus: effect of selective labyrinthine lesions. Brain Res 276: 159–164
Darlot C, Denise P, Droulez J, Cohen B, Berthoz A (1988) Eye movements induced by off-vertical axis rotation (OVAR) at small angles of tilt. Exp Brain Res 73: 91–105
Guedry FE (1965) Orientation of the rotation axis relative to gravity: its influence on nystagmus and the sense of rotation. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 60: 30–48
Harris LR (1987) Vestibular and optokinetic eye movements evoked in the cat by rotation about a tilted axis. Exp Brain Res 66: 522–532
Honrubia V, Downey WL, Michell DP, Ward PA, Ward PH (1968) Experimental studies on optokinetic nystagmus. II. Normal human. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 65: 441–448
Igarashi M, Takahashi M, Kubo T, Levy JK, Homick JL (1978) Effect of macular ablation on vertical optokinetic nystagmus in the squirrel monkey. ORL 40: 312–318
Igarashi M, Himi T, Kulecz WB, Patel S (1987) The role of saccular afferents in vertical optokinetic nystagmus in primates: a study in relation to optokinetic nystagmus in microgravity. Acta Oto-Rhino-Laryngol 244: 143–146
Jell RM, Ireland DJ, Lafortune SH (1984) Human optokinetic afternystagmus: slow-phase characteristics and analysis of the decay of slow-phase velocity. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 98: 462–471
Lafortune SH, Ireland DJ, Jell RM (1990) Effect of static tilt about the pitch and roll axes on human optokinetic afternystamus (OKAN). J. Vestib Res 1: 1–9
Leliever WC, Correia MJ (1987) Further observations on the effects of head position on vertical OKN and OKAN in normal subjects. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 97: 275–281
Matsuo V, Cohen B (1984) Vertical optokinetic nystagmus and vestibular nystagmus in the monkey: up-down asymmetry and effects of gravity. Exp Brain Res 53: 197–216
Raphan T, Cohen B, Henn V (1981) Effects of gravity on rotatory nystagmus in monkeys. Ann NY Acad Sci 374: 44–45
Raphan T, Cohen B (1986) Multidimensional organization of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). In: Keller EL, Zee DS (eds) Adaptive processes in visual and oculomotor systems. Adv. In the Biosciences, Vol 57. Pergamon Press, Oxford New York, pp 285–292
Raphan T, Cohen B (1988) Organizational principles of velocity storage in three dimensions: the effect of gravity on crosscoupling of optokinetic after-nystagmus. Ann NY Acad Sci 545: 74–92
Takahashi M, Igarashi M, Homick JL (1977) Effect of otolith end organ ablation on horizontal nystagmus in the squirrel monkey. ORL 39: 321–329
Tomko DL, Wall C III, Robinson FR, Staab JP (1987) Gain and phase of cat vertical eye movements generated by sinusoidal pitch rotations with and without head tilt. Aviat Space Environ Med 58: A186-A188
Young LR, Oman CM, Dichgans J (1975) Influence of head orientation on visually pitch and roll sensation. Aviat Space Environ Med 46: 264–268
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Clément, G., Lathan, C.E. Effects of static tilt about the roll axis on horizontal and vertical optokinetic nystagmus and optokinetic after-nystagmus in humans. Exp Brain Res 84, 335–341 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00231454
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00231454