Directional asymmetries of optokinetic nystagmus: developmental changes and relation to the accessory optic system and to the vestibular system. 1985

J Wallman, and J Velez

To investigate the relation of the directional organization of the accessory optic system (AOS) to that of its principal behavioral output, optokinetic nystagmus (OKN), we measured the eye velocity during OKN in response to 14 directions of stimulus motion, including horizontal, vertical, cyclorotational (rotations about the optic axis), and intermediate directions in both neonatal and older chickens. We found substantial and consistent OKN asymmetries between opposite directions of stimulus motion when the stimuli were viewed monocularly; the asymmetries were largest to combinations of cyclorotational and vertical stimulus motion and to horizontal stimulus motion. The highest gain of OKN in the older animals was in response to two directions of stimulus motion: horizontal temporal-to-nasal and a combination of excyclorotation and downward. In addition, OKN to upward moving stimuli was consistently better than to downward stimuli. The association of high OKN gain in the older animals with the pattern of visual motion produced by head movements exciting the contralateral anterior semicircular canal suggests a possible vestibular organization of the optokinetic system. The response pattern of the newly hatched chickens differed in three ways from that of the older animals: in the non-horizontal stimulus directions the best direction was to upward and excyclorotational stimulus motion; the horizontal asymmetry was somewhat less strong; and the OKN gain to high velocity horizontal stimulus motion was lower. The change in directional pattern of OKN over the first weeks of life appears related to a corresponding change in anatomy of the AOS.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009068 Movement The act, process, or result of passing from one place or position to another. It differs from LOCOMOTION in that locomotion is restricted to the passing of the whole body from one place to another, while movement encompasses both locomotion but also a change of the position of the whole body or any of its parts. Movement may be used with reference to humans, vertebrate and invertebrate animals, and microorganisms. Differentiate also from MOTOR ACTIVITY, movement associated with behavior. Movements
D009760 Nystagmus, Physiologic Involuntary rhythmical movements of the eyes in the normal person. These can be naturally occurring as in end-position (end-point, end-stage, or deviational) nystagmus or induced by the optokinetic drum (NYSTAGMUS, OPTOKINETIC), caloric test, or a rotating chair. Nystagmus, Barany,Nystagmus, Caloric,Nystagmus, End-Position,Nystagmus, Positional,Nystagmus, Post-Rotatory,Nystagmus, Thermal,Nystagmus, Barany's,Nystagmus, Physiological,Physiologic Nystagmus,Barany Nystagmus,Barany's Nystagmus,Caloric Nystagmus,End-Position Nystagmus,Nystagmus, Baranys,Nystagmus, End Position,Nystagmus, Post Rotatory,Physiological Nystagmus,Positional Nystagmus,Post-Rotatory Nystagmus,Thermal Nystagmus
D011597 Psychomotor Performance The coordination of a sensory or ideational (cognitive) process and a motor activity. Perceptual Motor Performance,Sensory Motor Performance,Visual Motor Coordination,Coordination, Visual Motor,Coordinations, Visual Motor,Motor Coordination, Visual,Motor Coordinations, Visual,Motor Performance, Perceptual,Motor Performance, Sensory,Motor Performances, Perceptual,Motor Performances, Sensory,Perceptual Motor Performances,Performance, Perceptual Motor,Performance, Psychomotor,Performance, Sensory Motor,Performances, Perceptual Motor,Performances, Psychomotor,Performances, Sensory Motor,Psychomotor Performances,Sensory Motor Performances,Visual Motor Coordinations
D002645 Chickens Common name for the species Gallus gallus, the domestic fowl, in the family Phasianidae, order GALLIFORMES. It is descended from the red jungle fowl of SOUTHEAST ASIA. Gallus gallus,Gallus domesticus,Gallus gallus domesticus,Chicken
D005133 Eye Movements Voluntary or reflex-controlled movements of the eye. Eye Movement,Movement, Eye,Movements, Eye
D006257 Head The upper part of the human body, or the front or upper part of the body of an animal, typically separated from the rest of the body by a neck, and containing the brain, mouth, and sense organs. Heads
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012399 Rotation Motion of an object in which either one or more points on a line are fixed. It is also the motion of a particle about a fixed point. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Clinorotation,Clinorotations,Rotations
D013997 Time Factors Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations. Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D014722 Vestibule, Labyrinth An oval, bony chamber of the inner ear, part of the bony labyrinth. It is continuous with bony COCHLEA anteriorly, and SEMICIRCULAR CANALS posteriorly. The vestibule contains two communicating sacs (utricle and saccule) of the balancing apparatus. The oval window on its lateral wall is occupied by the base of the STAPES of the MIDDLE EAR. Vestibular Apparatus,Ear Vestibule,Vestibular Labyrinth,Vestibule of Ear,Vestibulum Auris,Apparatus, Vestibular,Ear Vestibules,Labyrinth Vestibule,Labyrinth Vestibules,Labyrinth, Vestibular,Labyrinths, Vestibular,Vestibular Labyrinths,Vestibule, Ear,Vestibules, Ear,Vestibules, Labyrinth

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