Visual vestibular interaction in the control of eye movement

G. R. Barnes, A. J. Benson, A. R J Prior

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Three experimental conditions have been used to investigate the extent to which inappropriate reflex eye movements of vestibular origin can be suppressed by visual feedback. First, the ability to read digits in a display which moved with the head was assessed during angular oscillation about the yaw and pitch axes of the body. Performance decrement was observed at frequencies above 0.2 Hz in pitch and 1.0 Hz in yaw, being greater at higher stimulus velocity levels. A second experiment revealed that the performance decrement was associated with eye movements relative to the head, which increased with the frequency of stimulation. Finally, the response of the pursuit reflex was investigated under similar experimental conditions. The results indicated that the breakdown in the pursuit reflex and in the suppression of the vestibulo-ocular reflex occurred over the same frequency band, implying the similarity of the mechanisms responsible for suppression and pursuit.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)557-564
    Number of pages7
    JournalAviation, Space and Environmental Medicine
    Volume49
    Issue number4
    Publication statusPublished - 1978

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