Influence of gravity on cat vertical vestibulo-ocular reflex |
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| Authors: | D L Tomko C Wall III F R Robinson J P Staab |
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| Institution: | (1) Departments of Physiology and Otolaryngology and The Center for Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 15261 Pittsburgh, PA, USA;(2) Present address: Vestibular Research Facility, NASA Ames Research Center, Mail Stop 242-3, 94035 Moffett Field, CA, USA;(3) Present address: Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, 243 Charles Street, 02114 Boston, MA, USA;(4) Present address: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, SJ-40, 98195 Seattle, WA, USA |
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| Abstract: | Summary The vertical vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) was recorded in cats using electro-oculography during sinusoidal angular pitch. Peak stimulus velocity was 50°/s over a frequency range from 0.01 to 4.0 Hz. To test the effect of gravity on the vertical VOR, the animal was pitched while sitting upright or lying on its side. Upright pitch changed the cat's orientation relative to gravity, while on-side pitch did not. The cumulative slow component position of the eye during on-side pitch was less symmetric than during upright pitch. Over the mid-frequency range (0.1 to 1.0 Hz), the average gain of the vertical VOR was 14.5% higher during upright pitch than during on-side pitch. At low frequencies (<0.05 Hz) changing head position relative to gravity raised the vertical VOR gain and kept the reflex in phase with stimulus velocity. These results indicate that gravity-sensitive mechanisms make the vertical VOR more compensatory. |
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| Keywords: | Vertical vestibulo-ocular reflex Gravity receptors Vertical eye-movement symmetry Head pitch EOG |
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