Vestibular and Optokinetic Asymmetries in the Ocular and Cervical Reflexes
Vestibular and Optokinetic Asymmetries in the Ocular and Cervical Reflexes
Asymmetries of the vertical optokinetic reflex (VOKR) and the vertical vestibulo-ocular reflex (VVOR) have been observed in many species. Gains of upward OKR slow phases were higher than those of downward OKR slow phases. An upward preponderance was also observed in the VVOR of cats. This difference between upward and downward eye responses has been shown to be largely affected by gravity. Gravity also affects the VVOR response because the animals should be pitched around the interaural axis to a 90-degree incline to reveal such vertical vestibular asymmetry. In this condition, the vertical canals were stimulated without activating the otolithic receptors since the direction of gravity's action on the maculae was constant.
Keywords: vertical optokinetic reflex, vertical vestibulo-ocular reflex, slow phases, cats, eye responses, gravity
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