Visual-vestibular interaction in the control of eye movement: mathematical modelling and computer simulation

After a brief description of the main anatomical structures subserving the oculomotor responses during combined vestibular and optokinetic stimulations, a mathematical model is presented. With respect to a previous model by Schmid et al. (1980), a more accurate definition of the roles of the neural mechanisms involved in oculomotor control in different conditions of visual-vestibular interaction is given. The model is proved to be able to predict not only oculomotor responses, but also single unit average responses in the vestibular nuclei and in the vestibulo-cerebellum. Experimental data available in the literature on monkeys and cats are used for model validation.