Computer simulation of fixation suppression of vestibular nystagmus in normal persons

Fixation suppression of vestibular nystagmus was tested in normal humans during passive, nonperiodic angular rotation. The eye movement responses of the subjects were simulated using a simple mathematical model of visual-vestibular interaction. Agreement between observed and simulated responses was reasonably close, indicating that the model is a realistic representation of the physiologic mechanisms involved. The model was then used to assess the relative contributions of the pursuit and optokinetic systems to fixation suppression. It showed that, under these testing conditions, fixation suppression is mediated almost entirely by the pursuit system.