The horizontal and vertical cervico-ocular reflexes of the rabbit

Abstract

Horizontal and vertical cervico-ocular reflexes of the rabbit (HCOR, VCOR) were evoked by sinusoidal oscillation of the body about the vertical and longitudinal axes while the head was fixed. These reflexes were studied over a frequency range of 0.005–0.800 Hz and at stimulus amplitudes of ± 10°. When the body of the rabbit was rotated horizontally clockwise around the fixed head, clockwise conjugate eye movements were evoked. When the body was rotated about the longitudinal axis onto the right side, the right eye rotated down and the left eye rotated up. The mean gain of the HCOR (eye velocity/body velocity) rose from 0.21 and 0.005 Hz to 0.27 at 0.020 Hz and then declined to 0.06 at 0.3 Hz. The gain of the VCOR was less than the gain of the HCOR by a factor of 2–3. The HCOR was measured separately and in combination with the horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex (HVOR). These reflexes combine linearly. The relative movements of the first 3 cervical vertebrate during stimulation of the HCOR and VCOR were measured. For the HCOR, the largest angular displacement (74%) occurs between C 1 and C 2. For the VCOR, the largest relative angular displacement (45%) occurs between C 2 and C 3. Step horizontal clockwise rotation of the head and body (HVOR) evoked low velocity counterclockwise eye movements followed by fast clockwise (resetting) eye movements. Step horizontal clockwise rotation of the body about the fixed head (HCOR) evoked low velocity clockwise eye movements which were followed by fast clockwise eye movements. Step horizontal clockwise rotation of the head about the fixed body (HCOR + HVOR) evoked low velocity counterclockwise eye movements which were not interrupted by fast eye clockwise movements. These data provide further evidence for a linear combination of independent HCOR and HVOR signals.