Skip to main content
Log in

Vergence can be controlled by audio feedback, and induces downward ocular deviation

  • Research Note
  • Published:
Experimental Brain Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We measured horizontal and vertical eye positions, using binocular search coils, in three humans. Subjects could maintain vergence by means of audio biofeedback. Feedback consisted of a pair of audio tones, one variable and one fixed at a reference frequency. The variable tone was controlled by instantaneous vergence and provided immediate feedback on the vergence state. The reference frequency, which they attempted to match, was set to correspond to a target distance of either 0.34 m or 0.14 m. Subjects could maintain vergence consistently, even while undergoing lateral motions at 0.5 Hz and 0.2 g peak acceleration in darkness. There was also a consistent tendency for the eyes to deviate downward during near vergence. The results may be useful in experiments in which one wishes to control vergence without providing a visual reference which might inhibit conjugate eye movements.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Carpenter RHS (1988) Movements of the eyes. 2nd edn. Pion, London, p 103

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciuffreda KJ, Goldrich SG, Neary C (1982) Use of eye movement auditory biofeedback in the control of nystagmus. Am J Optom Physiol Opt 59:396–409

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornsweet TN, Crane HD (1973) Training the visual accommodation system. Vision Res 13:713–715

    Google Scholar 

  • Enright JT (1989) Convergence during human vertical saccades: probable causes and perceptual consequences. J Physiol (London) 410:45–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Heuer H, Dunkel-Abels G, Brüwer M, Kröger H, Römer T, Wischmeier E (1988) The effects of sustained vertical gaze deviation on the resting state of the vergence system. Vision Res 12:1337–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Heuer H, Owens DA (1989) Vertical gaze direction and the resting posture of the eyes. Perception 18:363–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirons R, Yolton RL (1978) Biofeedback treatment of strabismus: case studies. J Am Optom Assoc 49:875–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Hokoda SC, Ciuffreda KJ (1983) Theoretical and clinical importance of proximal vergence and accommodation. In:Schor CM, Ciuffreda KJ (eds) Vergence eye movements: basic and clinical aspects. Butterworths, Boston, pp 75–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Hung GK, Ciuffreda KJ, Carley CA, Fang P, Menditto S (1988) Auditory biofeedback to control vertical and horizontal eye movements in the dark. Itnvest Ophthalmol Visual Sci 29:1860–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaschinski-Kruza W (1990) Effects of stimulus distance on measurements of dark convergence. Ophthal Physiol Optics 10:243–251

    Google Scholar 

  • Letourneau JE (1976) Application of biofeedback and behavior modification techniques in visual training. Am J Optom Physiol Opt 53:187–90

    Google Scholar 

  • McLin LN, Schor CM (1988) Voluntary effort as a stimulus to accommodation and vergence. Invest Ophthalmol Visual Sci 29:1739–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Paige GD (1991) Linear vestibulo-ocular reflex (LVOR) and modulation by vergence. Acta Otolaryngol (Suppl) 481:282–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Paige GD, Tomko DL (1991) Eye movement responses to linear head motion in the squirrel monkey. II. Visual-vestibular interactions and kinematic considerations. J Neurophys 65:1183–96

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schor CM, Ciuffreda KJ (1983) Vergence eye movements: basic and clinical aspects. Butterworths, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Shelhamer M, Merfeld DM, Mendoza JC (1994) The gain of the linear vestibulo-ocular reflex is independent of vergence. Presentation at the 18th Bárány Society Meeting, Uppsala

  • Snyder LH, Lawrence DM, King WM (1992) Changes in vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) anticipate changes in vergence angle in monkey. Vision Res 32:569–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Takeda T, Neveu C, Stark L (1992) Accommodation on downward gaze. Optom Vis Sci 69:556–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Brocklin MD, Vasche TR, Hirons RR, Yolton RL (1981) Biofeedback enhanced strabismus therapy. J Am Optom Assoc 52:731–36

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shelhamer, M., Merfeld, D.M. & Mendoza, J.C. Vergence can be controlled by audio feedback, and induces downward ocular deviation. Exp Brain Res 101, 169–172 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00243228

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00243228

Key words

Navigation