NEURONAL ORGANIZATION OF THE VESTIBULOCULAR REFLEX

这项研究的目标是了解大脑中的神经回路是如何 产生维持凝视稳定性所需的眼球运动。这 由于严重丧失凝视稳定性，这一问题具有临床重要性。 会降低视力。由于前庭眼球反射作为一种模型 对于电机系统的总体功能而言，本项目也将有助于 加深对肢体等其他关键运动过程的了解 运动、姿势控制和运动。 一种强大的新方法，涉及到3中的运动功能分析 将使用尺寸来检查前庭目镜的属性 反射(VOR)和视动反射及其调节的神经通路 他们。这些反射将在动物旋转过程中进行研究。 它的视觉环绕在多个平面的三维空间中。空间和 VOR的动态属性将通过记录来自六个 在这种旋转过程中的眼部肌肉。然后，单个神经元的活动 通过电生理识别的输入和投射将被记录 以确定大脑如何将前庭输入转化为肌肉输出。 当正常的三维前庭眼球行为已经被表征时， 前庭病变后VOR的可塑性变化或 视觉前庭训练将在反射和神经水平上进行研究。这个 目标是了解神经系统如何补偿 影响前庭功能，是护理中非常重要的问题 中风、头部创伤或其他疾病患者的康复 神经问题。这些实验也应该让我们更接近 了解运动学习背后的神经机制。

The goal of this study is to understand how neural circuitry in the brain generates the eye movements required to maintain gaze stability. This problem is of clinical importance since loss of gaze stability severely degrades visual acuity. Since the vestibuloocular reflex serves as a model for motor system function in general, this project will also help to increase understanding of other critical motor processes such as limb movements, postural control and locomotion. A powerful new approach involving analysis of motor function in 3 dimensions will be used to examine the properties of the vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) and optokinetic reflex and of the neural pathways that mediate them. These reflexes will be studied during rotation of an animal or of its visual surround in many planes in 3-dimensional space. Spatial and dynamic properties of the VOR will be determined by recording from the six eye muscles during such rotations. Then activity of single neurons with inputs and projections identified electrophysiologically will be recorded to determine how the brain transforms vestibular input into muscle output. When normal 3-dimensional vestibuloocular behavior has been characterized, plastic changes in the VOR that follow vestibular lesions or visuo-vestibular training will be studied at reflex and neural levels. The goal is to understand how the nervous system compensates for lesions that affect vestibuloocular function, a problem of great importance in the care and rehabilitation of patients suffering from stroke, head trauma or other neurological problems. These experiments should also bring us closer to understanding the neuronal mechanisms underlying motor learning.