CHANGES IN VISUAL EVOKED RESPONSES DURING FAST PHASE OF OPTOKINETIC NYSTAGMUS IN RABBIT

Influence of saccades on flash-evoked visual responses (VER) was investigated under conditions of uncoupled visual input and oculomotor output. This was achieved by mechanically immobilizing one (seeing) eye and closing the other (moving) eye. Nystagmus was evoked by a rotating striped background. VER's were averaged and corrected for potentials occurring in conjunction with eye movement alone. It was found that VER recorded from visual cortex and superior colliculus were severely depressed during, but not prior to, the fast phase of nystagmus, though the electroretinogram remained completely unchanged. Time course of VER change was similar to that of eye speed. © 1969.