Optokinetic nystagmus during selective retinal stimulation

Nystagmic eye movements in response to selective optokinetic stimulation of different parts of the retina were studied in normal human subjects by two methods: 1. a digital computer controlled by the eye movement signal was used to generate an optokinetic display which stimulated only the peripheral retina, simulating a central scotoma, and 2. a single dot of 0.6 degrees in diameter was used as the stimulus during maintained forward gaze. The results show that stimulation of the central or peripheral retina alone can produce optokinetic nystagmus in man, and that essentially the same type of nystagmus is produced in both cases. The slow phase velocity of nystagmus evoked from the peripheral retina falls off rapidly with distance from the fovea but can be facilitated by attention. Results are compared with other findings and a possible explanation is offered for the observed variation in slow phase speed which occurs during constant velocity optokinetic stimulation.