Suppression of Optokinetic Velocity Storage in Humans by Static Tilt in Pitch

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Lafortune, S.H.^a | Ireland, D.J.^b | Jell, R.M.^{a; b; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Physiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | [b] Department of Otolaryngology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Note: [*] Reprint address: R.M. Jell, Ph.D., Department of Physiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MS, Canada, R3E OW3.

Abstract: The effects of static tilts about the pitch axis on human horizontal optokinetic afternystagmus OKAN (HOKAN) were examined. Static tilts in pitch produced tilt-dependent HOKAN suppression. The slow decay (indirect pathway) component (coefficient C and long time constant 1/D) of the two-component model for OKAN was significantly reduced, while the short decay (direct pathway) component (coefficient A and short time constant 1/B) remained invariant as angle of tilt was increased. These results provide further evidence that otolith organ activity can couple to horizontal velocity storage in humans; in accordance with models proposed in the literature.

Keywords: velocity storage, integrator, vestibular, man, oculomotor, otolith organs

DOI: 10.3233/VES-1990-1105

Journal: Journal of Vestibular Research, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 39-48, 1990