Lesions of the posterior commissure disable the vertical neural integrator of the primate oculomotor system.

Abstract

1. Spontaneous saccades, vestibuloocular responses (VOR), and optokinetic nystagmus were recorded in three squirrel monkeys before and after chemical or electrolytic lesion of the posterior commissure (PC). 2. PC lesions produced abnormal vertical eye movements, in particular, 1) Postsaccadic drifts, and 2) VOR gain reduction and phase advance more pronounced at lower frequencies of sinusoidal head rotation. Horizontal eye movements were much less affected (or normal). 3. We conclude that PC fibers are necessary for conveying the output of the vertical neural integrator to vertical oculomotor-neurons.