Evidence for brainstem structures participating in oculomotor integration.
The cerebellar flocculus has been implicated in vestibulo-oculomotor control. One major central input to this structure originates from brainstem cells in the paramedian tract (PMT), whose function is unknown. Here it is reported that PMT cells in the pons carry vestibular and eye movement signals and their pharmacological inactivation produces a leaky integrator combined with vestibular imbalance. The results suggest that PMT cells provide the cerebellum with sensory and motor signals that are essential for velocity-to-position integration, a common premotor process that is required in all motor systems.
Nakamagoe
K
K
Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan.
Iwamoto
Y
Y
Yoshida
K
K
D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000187:drug effects; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D008027:Light; D009118:Muscimol / Q000494:pharmacology; D009434:Neural Pathways; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009760:Nystagmus, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011149:Pons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D012438:Saccades / Q000502:physiology; D014725:Vestibular Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D014726:Vestibular Nuclei / Q000502:physiology
D018755:GABA Agonists; D009118:Muscimol