Fastigial nucleus activity in the alert monkey during slow eye and head movements.

摘要: 1. Single units were recorded extracellularly from the fastigial nucleus of three macaque monkeys. Two untrained animals subjected to whole-body yaw rotations in light and dark full-field horizontal optokinetic stimuli provided by a drum with vertical stripes. The third also was sinusoidal but, addition, trained follow small spot, which moved various ways relative animal, reveal possible smooth pursuit vestibular sensitivities. 2. On basis their responses during pursuit, neurons could be divided functionally into rostral caudal group. 3. Most exhibited an increased firing for contralateral head ipsilateral stimuli. A few had opposite combination directional preferences. average rates monotonically both velocity decreased oppositely directed movements. There no change rate either spontaneous saccades or moving spot. 4. In contrast, nuclei not only have robust sensitivity, but respond as well. discharge so that they exhibit very little modulation vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) when rotating animal is fixating target stationary world (SIW). remaining eye rotations; these greatest SIW condition. 5. Because quite different behavioral situations, it seems likely are involved descending control somatic musculature, whereas oculomotor control. sparse anatomic lesion data available consistent this idea.