title: Short vestibulo-ocular reflex time constants associated with oculomotor pathology in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Significantly short vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) time constants were found in significant high numbers in patients with multiple sclerosis who had oculomotor dysfunction, especially when this dysfunction comprised both the smooth pursuit/optokinetic and the saccadic systems. Some time constants were in the range of 2.5-6 s, i.e. shorter than the presumed time constant of the primary afferent canal neuron. Increase in oculomotor impairment was accompanied by a decrease in time constants in some patients, whereas others showed a combined renormalization of previously disturbed oculomotor function and short time constants. Significantly high numbers of combinations of asymmetry in oculomotor dysfunction and a directional preponderance in time constant were observed, with the shorter time constant on the side of the (more severe) defect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Academic Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Huygen
authors.forename: W I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Verhagen
authors.forename: O R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Hommes
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Nicolasen
mesh_terms: D004584:Electronystagmography; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests