Showing papers by "Marc Jeannerod published in 1977"

The role of vision in compensation of vestibulo ocular reflex after hemilabyrinthectomy in the cat.

Abstract: 1. A new description of vestibulo-ocular responses to angular velocity steps has been used to quantify vestibular compensation in right hemilabyrinthectomized cats. The amplitudes (VM and CM) and the times of occurrence (tM and to) from stimulus onset of the peaks of slow phase eye velocity and slow cumulative eye position were computed for velocity steps directed towards the lesioned side (clockwise, CW) and towards the intact side (counterclockwise, CCW). In addition, the values of these parameters were corrected from the effects of spontaneous nystagmus, when present. 2. In animals recovering in normal laboratory conditions, spontaneous nystagmus disappeared within 10 days after operation. In CCW responses, vm decreased by about 45% during the first 3 days and then remained stationary during the next 2 weeks. In CW responses VM showed a rapid increase during the first 3 days, and then remained stationary. After 2 weeks, VM increased in both CW and CCW responses. CM changes substantially reproduced those of VM. 3. In animals put in the dark immediately after operation, spontaneous nystagmus persisted until re-exposure to light (up to 31 days) and then disappeared rapidly. VM in both CW and CCW responses remained at a low value during the dark period and became more or less doubled after one week of exposure to light. CM also increased rapidly in CW and CCW responses, after re-exposure to light. 4. In the discussion these results are compared with those concerning activity of single vestibular neurons during compensation. It is concluded that vision is a primary factor conditioning disinhibition of vestibular nuclei spontaneous activity after the critical phase of compensation.

Compensation of postural effects of hemilabyrinthectomy in the cat. A sensory substitution process

Abstract: A photographic technique was used to study the evolution of lateral head-tilt following hemilabyrinthectomy in adult cats. Animals were maintained post-operatively in normally lit conditions (LM cats), in total darkness (DM cats), or in stroboscopic light. In LM cats, the head tilt peaked at 45 degrees (with the lesionned side down) on the second post-operative day, and decreased to about 0 degree within about 10 days. This evolution was followed by rebounds of head-tilt to larger angles before a stable compensated head position could be maintained (approximately at the end of the third post-operative month). In DM cats, the head remained tilted by a large angle throughout the duration of the dark period. Re-exposure to light was followed by a rapid decrease of head-tilt. In stroboscopic light, the evolution of head-tilt was found to be closely similar to that in the normally lit condition. Finally, when put back in the dark at a late post-operative stage, already compensated animals were found to loose their symmetrical head position, and to re-acquire a strong head tilt. This effect resumed on re-exposure to light. It is inferred that static visual input is a necessary condition for compensation of the postural deficits of hemi-labyrinthectomy in the cat. Maintenance of a stable head posture also depends upon continuous availability of visual input.

Developmental constraints of motion detection mechanisms in the kitten.

Abstract: The influence of deprivation procedures on the development of motion detection mechanisms has been studied in twenty-two kittens. Superior colliculus neurons did not acquire direction selectivity and normal ocular dominance in animals reared in the dark or in stroboscopic light. Neuron immaturity persisted in spite of a five week additional recovery period in normal conditions. Exposure to unidirectional visual motion for 10 h during the fifth week of postnatal age produced an asymmetric development of the two superior colliculi. Finally, unilateral neonatal ablation of visual cortex permanently impaired development of the ipsilateral superior colliculus. In the same or in different animals, development of optokinetic nystagmus, a typical visuomotor response, was similarly influenced by the global or selective deprivation procedures. These results suggest that motion detection mechanisms (both afferent and efferent) strongly depend upon constraints imposed by the visual world during the first weeks of life.