Summary
The effect of bilateral saccular ablation on the asymmetry of vertical optokinetic after-nystagmus (OKAN) was studied in squirrel monkeys. No significant changes occurred in the initial slow-phase eye velocity (SPEV) or the time constant of the upward or downward OKAN first phase (OKAN-I) under various stimulus conditions. However, with a protracted downward stimulus, the maximum SPEV and the number of beats of the slow-phase-up OKAN second phase (OKAN-II) significantly increased. This increase should be the result from enhancement of the downward optokinetic input. In contrast, there was only minimal change in the slow-phase-down OKAN-II. Thus, the asymmetrical dominance of the vertical OKAN (dominance upward) remained the same after saccular deafferentation.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
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
Brandt T, Dichgans J, Buechele W (1974) Motion habituation: inverted self-motion perception and optokinetic after-nystagmus. Exp Brain Res 21:337–352
Chubb MC, Fuchs AF (1982) Contribution of Y group of vestibular nuclei and dentate nucleus of cerebellum to generation of vertical smooth eye movement. J Neurophysiol 48:75–99
Clement G, Vieville T, Lestienne F, Berthoz A (1986) Modifications of gain asymmetry and beating field of vertical optokinetic nystagmus in microgravity. Neurosci Lett 63:271–274
Flurr E, Mellstrom A (1970) Saccular stimulation and oculomotor reactions. Laryngoscope 80:1713–1721
Himi T, Igarashi M, Kulecz WB, Kataura A (1988) Asymmetry of vertical optokinetic after-nystagmus in squirrel monkeys. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 105:312–317
Igarashi M, Takahashi M, Kubo T, Levy JK, Homick JL (1978) Effect of macular ablation on vertical optokinetic nystagmus in squirrel monkey. ORL 40:312–318
Igarashi M, Isago H, Alford BR (1983) Effect of prolonged optokinetic stimulation on oculomotor and locomotor balance functions. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 95:560–567
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. Arch Otorhinolaryngol 224:143–146
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
Matsuo V, Cohen B, Raphan T, Jong V de, Henn V (1979) Asymmetric velocity storage for upward and downward nystagmus. Brain Res 176:159–164
Takahashi M, Igarashi M (1977) Comparison of vertical and horizontal optokinetic nystagmus in the squirrel monkey. ORL 39:321–329
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Offprint request to: M. Igarashi
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Igarashi, M., Himil, T., MacDonald, S. et al. The effect of saccular ablation on vertical optokinetic after-nystagmus in squirrel monkeys. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 247, 274–276 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00176535
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00176535