The behavior of the vestibulo-ocular reflex at high velocities of head rotation

Abstract

The behavior of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) during both passive and active, high-velocity head movements was recorded in three normal subjects. We found that the VOR is compensatory for head velocities up to at least 350 deg·s −1, during both active and passive head rotation provided there is an attempt to visualize a real (or imagined) stationary object in space. Slow phase velocities, however, could reach values as high as 500 deg·s −1. Furthermore, during passive rotation at high velocities, the quick phase trajectory is modified — indicating an interaction between the slow phase and quick phase eye velocity commands.