Contribution of the frontal eye field to the control of eye and neck movements

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K06420
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 46030:Function of nervous system-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: Izawa Yoshiko 東京医科歯科大学, 大学院医歯学総合研究科, 准教授(キャリアアップ) (40372453)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 前頭眼野 / 眼球運動 / 頭部運動 / 随伴発射 / 注視

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Focal stimulation in the frontal eye field (FEF) evoked eye and neck movements. Experiments were performed with concurrent recording of both movements in trained monkeys. We recorded neck forces under a head-restrained condition using a force-measuring system. Taking advantage of this approach, we could analyze neck forces and eye movements that were dissociated from the vestibulo-ocular reflex. We found ipsiversive slow eye movements in combination with contraversive neck forces, suggesting that the FEF may be a source of a corollary discharge signal for compensatory eye movements during voluntary neck movements.

Free Research Field

神経生理

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

随伴発射は運動活動のinternal feedback（内部帰還）信号が中枢性に生じたものである。本研究により得られた結果は、前頭眼野の随伴発射信号が、随意性頭部運動に伴って代償性眼球運動を起こすことを示している。この前庭動眼反射によらない、前頭眼野による代償性眼球運動の理解は、臨床的に前庭障害の平衡訓練に役立つと考えられる。