Abstract
20 normal and 14 hyperactive (HA) boys were tested on a visual pursuit task. They tracked a 1° dot that moved back and forth in the horizontal plane over 30° at a constant velocity. The number and mean amplitude of saccades made during pursuit were determined for 2 trials given 30 min. apart. Irregular pursuit occurred more frequently in HA's than in normals. HA's made more saccades, their average saccades were larger, and they looked away from the pursuit path more frequently than normals. Both HA's and normals made fewer saccades when they were tested repeatedly, but the differences between the groups were maintained. The mean size of saccades did not change across repeated trials. Significant differences between normal and HA's in number and amplitude of saccades during visual pursuit were maintained over a 3 year period. The children were also tested for ability to maintain fixation for periods of one minute. HA's broke fixation before normals, with younger HA's having more difficulty holding fixation than older HA's. Faulty attention to stimuli as well as hypermobility could have contributed to the differences between normals and HA's on both fixation and visual pursuit. The data show that examination of the oculomotor system can be useful tool for study of hyperactivity. It may also provide an objective technique for differentiating HA's and normals. Supported by NIMH Grant #MH 29853
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Bala, S., Morris, A., Cohen, B. et al. 1113 SACCADIC EYE MOVEMENTS DURING VISUAL PURSUIT AND FIXATION IN HYPERACTIVE AND NORMAL BOYS. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 549 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-01119
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-01119