SACCADE STUDIES

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中的一个 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源。子项目和 研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得主要资金， 因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。列出的机构是 中心，不一定是研究者的机构。 我们工作的最终目标是了解大脑的功能。由于这项工作的艰巨性，只能研究大脑功能的一小部分。我们选择研究大脑功能的输出（运动）部分，并使用眼神经系统作为模型系统。 具体来说，我们研究的是那些被称为扫视眼球运动的快速运动。 我们继续我们的扫视产生的机制的研究，最近集中在功能的尾顶核（cFN），这是中线小脑蚓部的输出核。我们的研究包括3个相关的实验来测试cFN在正常扫视产生过程中的功能。具体而言，我们将使用解剖学和生理学方法来测试cFN功能的两个假设;即控制扫视幅度的反馈比较器与面对不可预见的扰动调整扫视幅度的终点控制器。我们预期的结果将从根本上改变，我们认为扫视产生的方式。它们不仅将提高我们对眼神经过程的理解，而且可能为小脑功能提供一个新的模型。如果成功，这些实验不仅将促进我们对大脑如何处理信息以根据该信息制定行动的理解，而且它们也是基于眼动迹象的鉴别神经学诊断的基础，现在临床上常用。我们的研究结果也为研究中枢神经系统功能的更复杂方面提供了基础，例如运动系统之间的相互作用（例如，定向期间的眼睛和头部）或感觉和运动系统（例如，视觉和眼动系统）和更抽象的功能，如注意力。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The ultimate goal of our work is to understand how the brain functions. Because of the immensity of such an undertaking, it is only possible to study a small portion of brain function. We have chosen to study the output (motor) portion of brain function and we use the oculomotor system as our model system. Specifically, we study those fast movements known as saccadic eye movements. We continue our studies of mechanisms of saccade generation and have recently focused on the function of the caudal Fastigial nucleus (cFN), which is the output nucleus of the midline cerebellar vermis. Our studies consist of 3 related experiments to test what the function of the cFN is during the production of normal saccades. Specifically, we will use anatomical and physiological methods to test two hypotheses of cFN function; that of a feedback comparator that controls saccade amplitude versus an end-point controller that adjusts saccade amplitude in the face of unforeseen perturbations. Our anticipated results will change fundamentally, the way that we think saccades are produced. Not only will they improve our understanding of oculomotor processes but they may provide a new model for cerebellar function. If successful, the experiments will not only advance our understanding of how the brain processes information in order to formulate actions based on that information, but they are also basic to the differential neurological diagnosis based on eye-movement signs now commonly used clinically. Our results also provide a foundation for studies of more complex aspects of central nervous system function such as interactions between motor systems (e.g., eye and head during orientation) or sensory and motor systems (e.g., the visual and oculomotor systems) and more abstract functions such as attention.