Trunk-ocular reflex in the rabbit

The trunk-ocular reflex of the rabbit was investigated by recording EMGs of right lateral rectus and splenius muscles. The skull and the chest of the rabbit were restrained and the lower part of the trunk was flexed laterally around the axis at the TH10--11 intervertebral joint. Two kinds of eye movements, small with short latencies and large with longer latencies, were induced counter to the direction of the lateral flexion. The latency of the former was 158 msec (range: 64--200 msec) and that of the latter was 255 msec (range: 180--380 msec).