VESTIBULAR AND VISUAL CONTROL OF EYE MOVEMENT

前庭眼反射（vestibulo-ocular reflex，VOR）通过引起眼球向与头部运动相反的方向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，称为VOR适应，当图像运动持续与头部转动相关联时，通过逐渐校正反射来校准VOR。VOR适应对于确保头部转动期间的足够视敏度以及对于响应于生物体或其环境中的变化而恢复空间中的正确运动和感知定向是必不可少的，所述变化例如随着生长和发育、衰老、外周或中枢神经系统损伤、戴上一副新眼镜或太空旅行而发生。拟议的实验研究VOR适应的神经机制，提出以下问题：视觉前庭刺激（头部转动期间的图像运动）的参数如何影响VOR适应？(Aim 1）在诱发VOR适应的刺激过程中，什么样的神经信号模式始终存在，并因此可能作为VOR适应的神经触发器？(Aim 2）通过小脑的神经通路的可塑性如何有助于VOR适应？(Aim 3）VOR是许多运动系统中的一个，其被认为依赖于小脑依赖性学习来维持正常的感觉运动功能和用于损伤后的功能恢复。 小脑的解剖学和生理学在整个结构范围内是非常有规律的，因此，VOR适应研究中揭示的原则可能有助于开发多种形式的感觉运动功能障碍的合理治疗方法。

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.