Abstract

The aim of the proposed research is to determine how the Nucleus of the Optic Tract (NOT) contributes to production of optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) and optokinetic after-nystagmus (OKAN) and to habituation and suppression of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) in the monkey. Previous studies indicate that NOT processes information that activates the velocity storage mechanism in the vestibular system to produce the slow component of OKN and OKAN. Concurrently, it produces rapid inactivation of a """"""""dump"""""""" of activity for contralateral OKAN and vestibular nystagmus from velocity storage. It also mediates a signal that supports habituation of vestibular nystagmus or OKAN with contralateral slow phases. In the next grant period we will inject GABA agonists and antagonists into NOT and determine the effects on OKN, OKAN and the VOR. We will make lesions of NOT and investigate the time course of return of visual suppression and habituation of contralateral vestibular nystagmus. We will study if visual suppression, habituation, VOR gain adaptation, and ocular pursuit are affected by such lesions. We will record from identified neurons in NOT and OKAN with visual suppression of vestibular nystagmus. These experiments should determine how NOT and the visual system participate in the production of OKN, OKAN and in controlling the VOR through visual suppression. They should also be useful in determining which brainstem and cerebellar organizations are involved in stabilizing gaze and mediating habituation of the VOR.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY002296-16
Application #
3256671
Study Section
Visual Sciences B Study Section (VISB)
Project Start
1978-01-01
Project End
1995-03-31
Budget Start
1993-04-01
Budget End
1994-03-31
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
1993
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10029

  Publications

Yakushin, S B; Gizzi, M; Reisine, H et al. (2000) Functions of the nucleus of the optic tract (NOT). II. Control of ocular pursuit. Exp Brain Res 131:433-47
Yakushin, S B; Reisine, H; Buttner-Ennever, J et al. (2000) Functions of the nucleus of the optic tract (NOT). I. Adaptation of the gain of the horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex. Exp Brain Res 131:416-32
Yakushin, S B; Raphan, T; Cohen, B (1999) Spatial properties of otolith units recorded in the vestibular nuclei. Ann N Y Acad Sci 871:458-62
Waitzman, D M; Silakov, V L; Cohen, B (1996) Central mesencephalic reticular formation (cMRF) neurons discharging before and during eye movements. J Neurophysiol 75:1546-72
Buttner-Ennever, J A; Cohen, B; Horn, A K et al. (1996) Efferent pathways of the nucleus of the optic tract in monkey and their role in eye movements. J Comp Neurol 373:90-107
Gizzi, M; Raphan, T; Rudolph, S et al. (1994) Orientation of human optokinetic nystagmus to gravity: a model-based approach. Exp Brain Res 99:347-60
Cohen, B; Reisine, H; Yokota, J I et al. (1992) The nucleus of the optic tract. Its function in gaze stabilization and control of visual-vestibular interaction. Ann N Y Acad Sci 656:277-96
Schiff, D; Cohen, B; Buttner-Ennever, J et al. (1990) Effects of lesions of the nucleus of the optic tract on optokinetic nystagmus and after-nystagmus in the monkey. Exp Brain Res 79:225-39
Cohen, B; Schiff, D; Buettner, J (1990) Contribution of the nucleus of the optic tract to optokinetic nystagmus and optokinetic afternystagmus in the monkey: clinical implications. Res Publ Assoc Res Nerv Ment Dis 67:233-55
Hepp, K; Henn, V; Vilis, T et al. (1989) Brainstem regions related to saccade generation. Rev Oculomot Res 3:105-212

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