Possible mechanisms of disorders in saccadic eye movements in parkinsonian patients

Abstract

Electrooculogram recording was used to examine the centrifugal horizontal saccades through an angle of 40° in patients with Parkinson's disease and healthy subjects. The patients demonstrated prolongation of latency and duration, as well as appearance of multiple saccades. The mean values of latency in the right and left saccades were significantly longer in patients than in normal subjects. Although the saccade duration in patients did not differ significantly from that in normal subjects, this parameter tended to increase in value and dispersion. The courses of the vision-controlled saccade disturbances in parkinsonian patients are discussed and hypothesis is forwarded on the disorder mechanisms with particular attention to GABAergic system.