Knox P C, Donaldson I M
Department of Pharmacology, University of Edinburgh, U.K.
Proc Biol Sci. 1991 Dec 23;246(1317):243-50. doi: 10.1098/rspb.1991.0151.
There is no general agreement on whether afferent signals from the extraocular muscles play any part in oculomotor control. However, we have previously shown that they modify the responses of cells in the oculomotor control system during the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). If, as we suspect, these signals have an important role in the control of the VOR from moment-to-moment, we should be able to demonstrate similar, functionally significant, modifications at the output of the reflex. We have recorded the electromyographic activity of several extraocular muscles of the right eye during the VOR and while imposing movements on the left eye. We describe how the activity of the muscles, reflected in the electromyogram, is modified in specific ways depending on the parameters of the imposed eye movements. The effects of the extraocular afferent signals on the eye-muscle responses to vestibular drive during the slow phase of the VOR appear to be corrective. Thus the present results provide strong evidence that afferent signals from the extraocular muscles are concerned in the control of the reflex from moment-to-moment, and suggest that the wider question of their role in oculomotor control merits further consideration.
关于来自眼外肌的传入信号是否在眼球运动控制中起作用,目前尚无普遍共识。然而,我们之前已经表明,在前庭眼反射(VOR)期间,这些信号会改变眼球运动控制系统中细胞的反应。正如我们所怀疑的那样,如果这些信号在逐时刻控制VOR中起重要作用,那么我们应该能够在反射输出端证明类似的、具有功能意义的改变。我们记录了右眼几条眼外肌在VOR期间以及对左眼施加运动时的肌电图活动。我们描述了肌电图中反映的肌肉活动如何根据所施加眼动的参数以特定方式发生改变。在VOR慢相期间,眼外传入信号对眼肌对前庭驱动反应的影响似乎具有校正作用。因此,目前的结果提供了强有力的证据,表明来自眼外肌的传入信号参与了对反射的逐时刻控制,并表明它们在眼球运动控制中作用这一更广泛的问题值得进一步考虑。