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Upward gaze and head deviation with frontal eye field stimulation
Kitti Kaiboriboon1, Hans O Lüders, Jonathan P Miller
1Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center. Kitti.Kaiboriboon@UHhospitals.org
Summary
Electrical stimulation of the right frontal eye field (FEF) induced upward eye movements, previously thought to require bilateral FEF activation. This challenges current models of the human FEF
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Motor Control
Background:
- The frontal eye fields (FEF) are crucial for controlling eye movements.
- Current understanding suggests bilateral FEF activation is necessary for certain vertical gaze shifts.
Observation:
- Electrical stimulation of the caudal right FEF elicited a novel upward eye movement pattern.
- This movement involved an initial return to the midline from a lateral gaze, followed by upward deviation.
Findings:
- A single-sided FEF stimulation can produce vertical gaze shifts.
- This challenges the established topological organization models of the human FEF.
- Sustained stimulation also resulted in upward head movements, indicating a role in vertical gaze shifts.
Implications:
- The findings necessitate a revision of current models of human FEF organization.
- This research has broader implications for understanding the topological organization of the motor cortex.
- It may influence future research on gaze control and neurological disorders affecting eye movements.
