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The Origin of Downbeat Nystagmus: An Asymmetry in the Distribution of On‐Directions of Vertical Gaze‐Velocity Purkinje Cells
Author(s) -
MARTI S.RAH,
STRAUMANN DOMINIK,
GLASAUER S.EFAN
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1325.065
Subject(s) - asymmetry , gaze , neuroscience , physics , nystagmus , eye movement , smooth pursuit , psychology , cerebellum , anatomy , audiology , medicine , quantum mechanics , psychoanalysis
A bstract : Various hypotheses on the origin of cerebellar downbeat nystagmus (DBN) have been presented; the exact pathomechanism, however, is still not known. Based on previous anatomical and electrophysiological studies, we propose that an asymmetry in the distribution of on‐directions of vertical gaze‐velocity Purkinje cells leads to spontaneous upward ocular drift in cerebellar disease, and therefore, to DBN. Our hypothesis is supported by a computational model for vertical eye movements.