Visual spatial clues enhance ocular torsion response during visual tilt

Ocular torsion in response to a static tilt of a visual stimulus has been, and still remains in doubt. Furthermore, the possible underlying mechanism is not well understood. The authors' hypothesize that if the torsional response is related to the vestibular otolith system, then a visual stimulus with spatial clues important for maintaining body posture will induce a larger torsional response as compared to a stimulus lacking spatial information. Eye movements were recorded objectively in 15 healthy individuals using a 3D video oculography system. Three visual stimuli were used. In two tests, an identical photographic image of a city scene with spatial clues relevant for body posture were used, with the only difference being a square periphery in one stimulus (test 1) and a circular periphery in the other (test 2). The third stimulus (test 3) consisted of yellow rectangles on a black background with no natural spatial information. The scenes were tilted in 15 degrees steps from 0 degrees to 45 degrees in CCW and CW direction, and each position were held static for 15 s. All visual scene tilts induced a compensatory torsional response, which increased with stimuli angle. The stimuli with spatial clues induced more torsion compared to the stimulus without spatial clues. No difference was found when analysing the peripheral contour effect or direction of stimulus tilt. The present results support the hypothesis of an origin in the otolith system for the torsional response found to a static tilted visual scene.