The neuronal pathway from the flocculus to the oculomotor nucleus: an electrophysiological study of group y nucleus in cats.

In 17 cats anesthetized by Ketalar, neuronal activities were recorded extracellularly by a tungsten microelectrode placed in the group y nucleus of the vestibular nuclei. Forty-seven of 139 neurons tested were activated antidromically by stimulation of the superior rectus and inferior oblique subdivisions of the oculomotor nucleus. Twenty-five of these 47 neurons ceased their spontaneous discharges after stimulation of the caudal zone of the flocculus. In addition, 18 out of these 25 units responded polysynaptically to stimulation of the vestibular nerve.