VESTIBULAR AND VISUAL CONTROL OF EYE MOVEMENT

前庭-眼反射（VOR）通过引起与头部运动相反方向的眼球运动来减少视网膜上视觉图像的运动。运动学习的一种形式，被称为VOR适应，通过逐渐纠正当图像运动与头部转动持续相关时的反射来校准VOR。VOR适应对于确保头部转动时足够的视觉敏锐度，以及在生物体或其环境变化（如生长发育、衰老、外周或中枢神经系统损伤、戴上一副新眼镜或在太空中旅行）的反应中恢复适当的运动和感知方向至关重要。本实验通过以下问题探讨了VOR适应的神经机制：视觉前庭刺激参数（头部转动时的图像运动）如何影响VOR适应？（目的1）在诱导VOR适应的刺激过程中，哪些神经信号模式始终存在，因此可能作为VOR适应的神经触发器？（目的2）通过小脑的神经通路的可塑性如何促进VOR适应？（目的3）VOR是许多运动系统之一，被认为依赖小脑依赖性学习来维持正常的感觉运动功能和损伤后的功能恢复。小脑的解剖学和生理学在这个结构的范围内是非常有规律的，因此，在VOR适应研究中发现的原则可能有助于开发合理的治疗方法来治疗多种形式的感觉运动功能障碍。

The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) reduces motion of visual images on the retina by evoking eye movements in the opposite direction to head movements. A form of motor learning, known as VOR adaptation, calibrates the VOR by gradually correcting the reflex when image motion is persistently associated with head turns. VOR adaptation is essential for ensuring adequate visual acuity during head turns and for restoring proper motor and perceptual orientation in space in response to changes in the organism or its environment, such as occur with growth and development, aging, injury to the peripheral or central nervous system, the donning of a new pair of spectacles, or travel in space. The proposed experiments examine the neural mechanisms of VOR adaptation by asking the following questions: How do the parameters of visual-vestibular stimulation (image motion during head turns) affect VOR adaptation? (Aim 1) What patterns of neural signals are consistently present during stimuli that induce VOR adaptation, and might therefore serve as the neural trigger for VOR adaptation? (Aim 2) How might plasticity in neural pathways through the cerebellum contribute to VOR adaptation? (Aim 3) The VOR is one of many motor systems that is thought to rely on cerebellum-dependent learning to maintain normal sensorimotor function and for recovery of function following injury. The anatomy and physiology of the cerebellum is very regular across the extent of this structure, therefore, the principles uncovered in studies of VOR adaptation may be useful for the development of rational therapeutic approaches to many forms of sensorimotor dysfunction.