Upward gaze and head deviation with frontal eye field stimulation

Epileptic Disord. 2012 Mar;14(1):64-8. doi: 10.1684/epd.2012.0494.

Abstract

Using electrical stimulation to the deep, most caudal part of the right frontal eye field (FEF), we demonstrate a novel pattern of vertical (upward) eye movement that was previously only thought possible by stimulating both frontal eye fields simultaneously. If stimulation was started when the subject looked laterally, the initial eye movement was back to the midline, followed by upward deviation. Our finding challenges current view of topological organisation in the human FEF and may have general implications for concepts of topological organisation of the motor cortex, since sustained stimulation also induced upward head movements as a component of the vertical gaze shift. [Published with video sequences].

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Deep Brain Stimulation
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / physiopathology*
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / surgery
  • Eye Movements / physiology*
  • Frontal Lobe / physiopathology*
  • Frontal Lobe / surgery
  • Head Movements / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Young Adult