Vertical optokinetic nystagmus in the split-brain monkey

doi:10.1016/0014-4886(71)90230-5

Experimental Neurology

Volume 30, Issue 1, January 1971, Pages 162-171

https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-4886(71)90230-5 Get rights and content

Abstract

Electrooculograms during optokinetic stimulation in the vertical plane were recorded from seven monkeys (Macaca mulatta) before and after section of pregeniculate visual pathways or midsagittal division of brain commissures, or both. Section of one optic tract or of the chiasma did not alter the response. Additional cutting of the corpus callosum resulted in a nystagmus of lower frequency and perverted direction with an oblique component toward the side of the visually “deprived” hemisphere. The deficits in the monkeys with section of the optic chiasma appeared only on monocular stimulation. Additional division of massa intermedia, anterior, posterior, habenular, and intercollicular commissures, completely abolished the nystagmus upward. This defect was also present on binocular stimulation of animals with section of the optic chiasma. These findings support the concept that both sides of the brain must receive adequate visual input, either through the classic optic pathway or through the commissures, to result in normal optokinetic nystagmus in the vertical plane. Subcortical commissures, particularly the posterior commissure, may be more related to the oculomotor output since their section affects the response even on binocular stimulation of monkeys with division of both the optic chiama and the corpus callosum. Since optokinetic nystagmus is a most sensitive indicator of the integrity of the oculomotor system, the possibility of defective eye movements should be considered in the interpretation of the results of visual tests in split-brain monkeys.

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Cited by (20)

Binocular motion rivalry in macaque monkeys: Eye dominance and tracking eye movements
1990, Vision Research
When the two eyes are exposed to markedly different patterns, perception becomes unstable, falling into oscillations, so that the image of one eye is seen first and then that from the other. With large stimuli the alternation is piecemeal, whilst when small stimuli are used the whole pattern alternates in unison. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a reliable, objective indicator of the perceptual state during binocular rivalry could be developed in the nonhuman primate. Monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were trained to discriminate direction of motion when presented with vertically drifting gratings moving in opposite directions in the two eyes. A high correlation was found between the direction of the slow phase of the optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) elicited by the drifting gratings during rivalry and the direction of motion reported by the monkey even though the gain of the OKN was reduced during rivalry, and the latency was longer. Behavioral eye dominance during rivalry varied significantly over time, between individuals and as a function of interocular contrast differences. Since the direction of tracking eye movements can be used to reliably monitor perceptual state during binocular motion rivalry, the opportunity exists in nonhuman primates to study the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying motion perception during the perceptually ambiguous condition of binocular rivalry.
Orientational asymmetries in small-field optokinetic nystagmus in human infants
1984, Behavioural Brain Research
Optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) is a pattern of reflexive eye movements which occurs when portions of the visual field are in continuous motion. Gratings moving at 7 deg/s either horizontally (left or right) or vertically (up or down) were presented on a viewing screen subtending 30° by 22°. Horizontal (HOKN) and vertical (VOKN) OKN were recorded under binocular viewing conditions from infants and adults. Eye movements were recorded by means of an infrared corneal reflection eye movement recorder. OKN to horizontal and vertical stimuli was different in pattern for infants. Infants' HOKN was of significantly higher frequency and lower amplitude than their VOKN. Infants below 4 months of age also showed an asymmetry within VOKN between upward and downward stimulus motion, with markedly lower gains and more variable slow phase following movements for downward moving stimuli. No differences were found in HOKN to the right and left. There was also no evidence of a build-up of slow phase velocity over time. Infants' fast phases showed peak velocity/amplitude relationships like those of adults, and like those of infant saccades recorded in a previous study of infants' fast eye movements. Across all directions of stimulus movement, infants had lower slow phase gains and OKN frequencies, and larger slow phase amplitudes than adults. The characteristics of infants' OKN are discussed in relation to those observed in other species and in adult clinical patients with eye movement disorders.
Asymmetric velocity storage for upward and downward nystagmus
1979, Brain Research
Direction of gaze and distribution of cerebral thought processes
1974, Neuropsychologia
During verbal thought, subjects look right, and during spatial thought they look up and to the left. This effect is weakened or abolished if subjects are asked to hold central fixation, if they are confronted by an experimenter or by the sound of his voice, or if they are set to respond other than straight ahead. If precautions are taken in these respects, the phenomenon is a useful index of cerebral lateralization of cognitive function.
Lorsqu'ils pensent verbalement, les sujets regardent vers la droite, lorsqu'ils pensent spatialement, ils regardent vers le haut et vers la gauche. Cet efet est afaibli ou aboli si on demande aux sujets de maintenir la fixation centrale. s'ils sont confrontés à un expérimentateur ou au son de sa voix ou si on leur impose de répondre d'une autre façon que “droit devant.” Si les précautions sont prises sur ces diférents points, le phénomène reste un indice utile de latéralisation cérébrale des fonctions cognitives.
Während sprachlicher Denkakte schauen die Versuchspersonen nach rechts, während räumlicher Denkakte schauen sie auf oder nach links. Diese Wirkung wird vermindert oder aufgehoben, wenn die Versuchspersonen aufgefordert werden, eine zentrale Fixation beizubehalten, wenn sie mit dem Untersucher oder dem Klang seiner Stimme konfrontier, oder wenn sie so posiert werden, daβ sie anders als geradeaus reagieren müssen. Wenn alle Vorsichtsmaβnahmen in dieser Hinsicht getroffen sind, dann ist das Phänomen ein brauchbarer Hinweis auf die cerebrale Lateralisation kognitiver Funktionen.
Effect of head and body tilt on flicker-induced nystagmus in monkeys
1973, Experimental Neurology
Nystagmus was induced in four normal monkeys (Macaca mulatta) by monocular stroboscopic stimulation. The direction and frequency of the response were determined in electrooculograms at eight tilts in the frontal plane and four in the sagittal plane. Eight directions, 45° apart, were identified and the prevailing vector was selected as that showing the highest accumulation in histograms. This vector showed a component to the side of the stimulated eye in all positions tested, and varied sinusoidally with the angle of tilt in the frontal plane. It was minimally influenced by tilts in the sagittal plane. The direction of nystagmus at every tilt was strictly opposite when elicited by right or left eye stimulation. Frequency changes with tilts in the frontal plane were similar for both eyes, being maximal in the upside down and minimal in the lateral positions. There was a significant negative correlation between frequency and the deviation of the prevailing vector away from the horizontal plane of the eyes. With tilts in the sagittal plane, frequency was minimal in the prone posture. The changes in the prevailing vector may be attributed to the function of the otolith organ at a central level or through changes in the initial eye position due to ocular counterrolling or both. The changes in frequency can be interpreted as otolith excitatory or strongly inhibitory influences in the upside down or lateral positions, respectively. It could also reflect a property of the oculomotor system whereby it reacts more effectively in the horizontal plane and its efficiency decreases when oblique vectors are introduced. The phenomenon as a whole is discussed in terms of three possible mechanisms, and its modification by static tilts is offered as an experimental animal model of visuootolithic interactions.
Central eye nystagmus in the split-brain guinea pig
1972, Experimental Neurology
The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the effects of acute, midline, symmetrical splitting of different parts of the brain on eye nystagmus in the guinea pig. Nystagmus was elicited by electrical stimulation of the temporoparietal cortex or of the nystagmogenic corticofugal fibers in the superior colliculus, by thermal stimulation of the labyrinth. Midline, symmetrical division of the corpus callosum and diencephalon, of the mesencephalon, or of the rostral most part of the bulb just caudal to the abducent nuclei did not suppress the nystagmus. However, it was abolished by splitting the whole pontomesencephalic region or, more simply, the pons at the level of or just rostral to the abducent nuclei. In this instance labyrinthine or central stimulation could induce conjugate or monocular eye deviation only occasionally. In the guinea pigs with split mesencephalon, abnormalities of conjugate eye movements were observed during nystagmus, particularly when the vestibular nuclei were ablated together with the cerebellum. Thus, the central eye nystagmus was horizontal in one eye and vertical in the contralateral one; in other cases monocular or convergent nystagmus was noted.

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¹: This investigation was supported by U.S.P.H.S. Grants MH-02261 and K3-NB-16,865.

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Vertical optokinetic nystagmus in the split-brain monkey

Abstract

Comments on the physiology and pathology of eye movements in the vertical plane

J. Nerv. Ment. Dis.

Oculomotor pathways defined by electric stimulation and lesions in the brainstem of monkeys

Lateral geniculate nucleus and cerebral cortex: evidence for a crossed pathway

Science

Oculomotor functions in monkeys with lesions of the cerebrum and the superior colliculi

Oculomotor function following cerebral hemidecortication in the monkey. A study with special reference to optokinetic and vestibular nystagmus

Arch. Neurol.

The pretectal syndrome in monkeys. I. Disturbances of gaze and body posture

Brain

Effect of cerebral lesions upon optokinetic nystagmus in monkeys

J. Neurophysiol.