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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
Using Saccadometry with Deep Brain Stimulation to Study Normal and Pathological Brain Function
Published on: July 14, 2016
Saccades in children with spina bifida and Chiari type II malformation
M S Salman1, J A Sharpe, M Eizenman
1Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children, Ontario, Canada. msalman@hsc.mb.ca
Insights
Saccades, or rapid eye movements, are typically normal in individuals with Chiari II malformation (CII). This suggests the neural control of saccades is robust and unaffected by the condition.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Saccades are crucial for effective vision.
- Chiari type II malformation (CII) is a congenital brain anomaly linked to spina bifida.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of Chiari II malformation on saccadic eye movements.
- To correlate saccadic parameters with neuroimaging findings.
Main Methods:
- Infrared eye tracking recorded saccades in 21 children with CII (ages 8-19) and 39 controls.
- MRI data from 19 CII participants were analyzed.
- Regression analyses examined relationships between saccades and clinical/imaging variables.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in saccadic amplitude gains, peak velocities, or latencies were observed between the CII and control groups.
- Saccadic parameters did not correlate with spinal lesion level, shunt revisions, nystagmus, or MRI measurements.
Conclusions:
- Saccades were generally normal in participants with Chiari II malformation.
- The neural mechanisms underlying saccade generation appear resilient to the structural changes in CII.
Background:
Saccades are essential for optimal visual function. Chiari type II malformation (CII) is a congenital anomaly of the cerebellum and brainstem, associated with spina bifida.
Objective:
To investigate the effects of CII on saccades and correlate saccadic parameters with brain MRI measurements.
Methods:
Saccades were recorded in 21 participants with CII, aged 8 to 19, using an infrared eye tracker. Thirty-nine typically developing children served as controls. Participants made saccades to horizontal and vertical target steps. Nineteen participants with CII had MRI. Regression analyses were used to investigate the effects of spinal lesion level, number of shunt revisions, presence of nystagmus, and midsagittal MRI measurements on saccades.
Results:
Saccadic amplitude gains, asymptotic peak velocities, and latencies did not differ between the control and CII groups (p > 0.01). No significant differences were found between saccadic gains, asymptotic peak velocities or latencies, and spinal lesion level, number of shunt revisions, presence of nystagmus, or MRI measurements.
Conclusions:
Saccades were normal in most participants with Chiari II malformation (CII). Neural coding of saccades is robust and is typically not affected by the anatomic deformity of CII.
