The chinchilla's vestibulo-ocular reflex

Acta Otolaryngol. 1989 Sep-Oct;108(3-4):161-7. doi: 10.3109/00016488909125514.

Abstract

The horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) was measured and characterized in seven adult chinchillas using 0.01 to 1.0 Hz angular velocity sinusoids. Gains were less than compensatory, and were variable from day to day but phases were highly repeatable both within and between animals. The best fitting transfer function to the average data of all animals had a dominant time constant of 7.5 sec, and an adaptation operator with a time constant of 24.0 sec. There were certain nonlinearities in the horizontal VOR of this animal, and it was difficult to elicit a robust optokinetic response. Results are discussed in relation to similar measurements in other species.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chinchilla / physiology*
  • Electrooculography
  • Nystagmus, Physiologic / physiology
  • Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular / physiology*