title: Visual and vestibular determinants of the translational vestibulo-ocular reflex.
abstract: Prior studies indicate that the human translational vestibulo-ocular reflex (tVOR) generates eye rotations approximately half the magnitude required to keep the line of sight pointed at a stationary object--a compensation ratio (CR) of ∼0.5. We asked whether changes of visual or vestibular stimuli could increase the CR of tVOR. First, subjects viewed their environment through an optical device that required eye movements to increase by ∼50% to maintain fixation of a stationary visual target. During vertical translation, eye movements did increase, but tVOR CR remained at ∼0.5. Second, subjects viewed through LCD goggles providing 4 Hz strobe vision that minimized retinal image motion; this reduced tVOR CR. Finally, subjects were rotated in roll while they translated vertically; no increase in tVOR occurred. Taken with prior studies, we conclude that tVOR is optimally set to generate eye rotations that are about 50% of those required to stabilize the line of sight.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs and Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Rosalyn M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Stacia S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yaniglos
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertolini
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Glendinning
authors.forename: Robert N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Sawyer
authors.forename: Millard
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reschke
authors.forename: R John
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Leigh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006112:Gravitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009038:Motion; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011698:Pursuit, Smooth / Q000502:physiology; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D012399:Rotation; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000502:physiology*