Optokinetic nystagmus: the effects of stationary edges, alone and in combination with central occlusion

Vision Res. 1986;26(7):1155-62. doi: 10.1016/0042-6989(86)90049-0.

Abstract

In Experiment 1 we investigated the independent and combined effects of horizontal OKN of stationary edges and occlusion of the central retina. For a display 60 degrees wide moving at 30 degrees/sec a symmetrically placed pair of vertical nonoccluding bars suppressed OKN when near the center of the display but had no effect when 30 degrees apart. A 7 degrees-high 60 degrees-wide central occluder reduced OKN gain by 37%. However, a central occluder with edges only 30 degrees wide abolished OKN. In Experiment 2 this interaction between central occlusion and stationary edges was confirmed with a wider display over a range of stimulus velocities and configurations. A functional explanation of this interaction is presented.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Form Perception / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motion Perception / physiology
  • Nystagmus, Physiologic*
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual / physiology*
  • Perceptual Masking / physiology
  • Retina / physiology*
  • Time Factors
  • Visual Acuity
  • Visual Fields