Increasing evidence indicates that the oculomotor response to a near stimulus (which includes lens, pupil,, and vergence eye movements) is guided largely by neural processes driven by disparity stimulation. The traditional notion that disparity vergence is controlled by continuous feedback has been rejected by recent findings. These experiments show that disparity vergence and its associated near triad responses are controlled by at least two subcomponents which have different response behaviors and are driven by different features of the disparity stimulus. One of these components, the one responsible for controlling the fast portion of disparity vergence, shows indications of sampling and preprogramming reminiscent of saccadic behavior. Experiments proposed would isolate the two components by identifying stimulus features which selectively drive each of them. Subsequent experiments will define the basic operating mode of each component (feedback controlled or preprogrammed), and determine the critical timing parameters associated with the fast component. Even if the fast component is not preprogrammed, its behavior cannot be explained as a simple error- driven control process. Hence a final set of experiments will define the relationship between specific stimulus features and the fast component response. A primary objective of this proposal is the development of a theory of disparity vergence control. This theory will be implemented as a quantitative, computer-simulated model and evaluated in terms of the experimental findings. The research proposed is part of a long-term objective to develop a comprehensive theory of near triad control to provide a deeper and more consistent explanation of clinical and experimental behaviors.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY007519-02
Application #
3264458
Study Section
Visual Sciences B Study Section (VISB)
Project Start
1990-04-01
Project End
1993-03-31
Budget Start
1991-04-01
Budget End
1992-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Rutgers University
Department
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
038633251
City
New Brunswick
State
NJ
Country
United States
Zip Code
08901
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Hung, G K; Zhu, H; Ciuffreda, K J (1997) Convergence and divergence exhibit different response characteristics to symmetric stimuli. Vision Res 37:1197-205
Hung, G K (1997) Quantitative analysis of the accommodative convergence to accommodation ratio: linear and nonlinear static models. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 44:306-16
Hung, G K; Wilder, J; Curry, R et al. (1995) Simultaneous better than sequential for brief presentations. J Opt Soc Am A Opt Image Sci Vis 12:441-9
Curry, R; Hung, G K; Wilder, J et al. (1995) Context effect of common objects on visual processing. Optom Vis Sci 72:452-60
Semmlow, J L; Hung, G K; Horng, J L et al. (1994) Disparity vergence eye movements exhibit preprogrammed motor control. Vision Res 34:1335-43
Hung, G K; Ciuffreda, K J (1994) Sensitivity analysis of relative accommodation and vergence. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 41:241-8
Hung, G K; Ciuffreda, K J; Semmlow, J L et al. (1994) Vergence eye movements under natural viewing conditions. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 35:3486-92
Semmlow, J L; Hung, G K; Horng, J L et al. (1993) Initial control component in disparity vergence eye movements. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 13:48-55

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