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Eye movements in REM sleep could be controlled by the same conjugate system while awake
Kaku Kimura1, Naoko Tachibana, Yoshinobu Otsuka
1Department of Neurology, Shizuoka City Hospital, 10-93 Ohtemachi, Shizuoka 420-8630, Japan. kaku@df6.so-net.ne.jp
Sleep Medicine
|November 1, 2003
Summary
Impaired eye movements during REM sleep were observed in a patient with internuclear ophthalmoplegia. This suggests the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF) is crucial for REM sleep eye movement control.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Internuclear ophthalmoplegia is characterized by impaired eye movements.
- The medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF) is a key neural pathway for eye movement control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the MLF in eye movement control during REM sleep.
- To describe a case of internuclear ophthalmoplegia with REM sleep ocular motor impairment.
Main Methods:
- Case study of a 75-year-old woman with internuclear ophthalmoplegia.
- Overnight polysomnography to monitor sleep and eye movements.
Main Results:
- The patient exhibited limited adduction of the right eye, consistent with right MLF syndrome.
- Polysomnography confirmed impaired right adductive ocular movement during REM sleep.
Conclusions:
- The MLF plays a role in mediating lateral conjugate eye movements during REM sleep.
- Findings extend the known function of the MLF to REM sleep ocular motor control.