Dynamic analysis of ocular torsion in parabolic flight using video-oculography

Abstract

Dynamic ocular torsion was investigated in a group of healthy subjects during the course of parabolic flight by means of our video-based eye movement recording method—video-oculography. This technique enables a non-invasive dynamic measurement of all three dimensions of eye movement in a harsh experimental environment such as parabolic flight. The test subjects were positioned so that the changing resultant gravito-inertial field in the aircraft was aligned with their interaural ( y) axis, primarily stimulating the utricular organs. The analysis of the torsional component of eye movement during the change of gravity between 1.8-0 and 0–1.8 g demonstrated a static component—well known as the ocular counter roll—and a dynamic component, which leads to a slight overshoot in the torsional response. These static and dynamic component of ocular torsion correlate with previous neurophysiological findings.