A Concept on Optic Vestibular Coordination

Abstract

The optic vestibular coordinations, in observations of optokinetic nystagmus elicited by combined applications of optokinetic and subliminal labyrinthine stimulations, were discussed from viewpoints of power spectrums. It was observed that the fluctuation of slow phase eye speed and intervals of optokinetic nystagmus closely resemble the 1/f fluctuation pattern and may be modified by the simultaneous presence of labyrinthine stimulation in the manner of the whitening of power spectrum in frequencies higher than 0.03 Herz. It may be suggested that in frequencies lower than 0.03 Herz the oculo-oculomotor reflex is dominant and in frequencies higher than that the vestibulo-oculomotor reflex takes over and plays an important role in developing optokinetic nystagmus and stabilizing the retinal image.