We explore our visual world using a number of different eye movement systems that allow us to control the direction of gaze and maintain clear vision during locomotion. Visual inputs provide the required control signals for most oculomotor system functions. During early postnatal development, the visual and oculomotor systems interact to produce normal ocular alignment, stereoscopic vision and acuity. Our studies are directed at defining the neural mechanism that support visually elicited eye movements in primates. We measure eye movements, precisely, by electromagnetic means and relate it to the activity of neurons in different visual cortical and brainstem regions to smooth pursuit, ocular following, and optokinetic eye movements. We propose developmental studies to determine the neural mechanisms responsible for, clinically important, abnormal eye movements syndromes such as latent nystagmus, smooth pursuit asymmetry, strabismus and gaze instability often associated with problems in the early development of binocular vision. The results obtained in these studies will improve our understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying normal and pathological smooth eye movements. This understanding is necessary for the diagnosis and management of ocular-motility disorders.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY006069-15
Application #
2885104
Study Section
Visual Sciences B Study Section (VISB)
Program Officer
Hunter, Chyren
Project Start
1990-09-30
Project End
2002-11-30
Budget Start
1999-12-01
Budget End
2000-11-30
Support Year
15
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$279,000
Indirect Cost
Name
Emory University
Department
Neurology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
042250712
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30322
Bakst, Leah; Fleuriet, Jérome; Mustari, Michael J (2017) FEFsem neuronal response during combined volitional and reflexive pursuit. J Vis 17:13
McMillan, A; Mustari, M; Horn, A (2017) Identification of secondary vestibulo-ocular neurons in human based on their histochemical characteristics found in monkey. J Neurol 264:583-585
Walton, Mark M G; Mustari, Michael J (2017) Comparison of three models of saccade disconjugacy in strabismus. J Neurophysiol 118:3175-3193
Ono, Seiji; Mustari, Michael J (2016) Response properties of MST parafoveal neurons during smooth pursuit adaptation. J Neurophysiol 116:210-7
McLoon, Linda K; Christiansen, Stephen P; Ghose, Geoffrey M et al. (2016) Improvement of Eye Alignment in Adult Strabismic Monkeys by Sustained IGF-1 Treatment. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 57:6070-6078
Fleuriet, Jérome; Walton, Mark M G; Ono, Seiji et al. (2016) Electrical Microstimulation of the Superior Colliculus in Strabismic Monkeys. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 57:3168-80
Willoughby, Christy L; Fleuriet, Jérome; Walton, Mark M et al. (2015) Adaptability of the Immature Ocular Motor Control System: Unilateral IGF-1 Medial Rectus Treatment. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 56:3484-96
Walton, Mark M G; Mustari, Michael J; Willoughby, Christy L et al. (2015) Abnormal activity of neurons in abducens nucleus of strabismic monkeys. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 56:10-9
Tang, Xiaofang; Büttner-Ennever, Jean A; Mustari, Michael J et al. (2015) Internal organization of medial rectus and inferior rectus muscle neurons in the C group of the oculomotor nucleus in monkey. J Comp Neurol 523:1809-23
Willoughby, Christy L; Fleuriet, Jérome; Walton, Mark M et al. (2015) Adaptation of slow myofibers: the effect of sustained BDNF treatment of extraocular muscles in infant nonhuman primates. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 56:3467-83

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