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BMJ Case Reports 2009; doi:10.1136/bcr.08.2008.0687
  • Findings that shed new light on the possible pathogenesis of a disease or an adverse effect

Loss of exploratory vertical saccades after unilateral frontal eye field damage

  1. Tobias Pflugshaupt,
  2. Thomas Nyffeler,
  3. Roman von Wartburg,
  4. Christian W Hess,
  5. René M Müri
  1. Perception and Eye Movement Laboratory, Departments of Neurology and Clinical Research, University Hospital Bern, Bern, 3010, Switzerland
  1. rene.mueri{at}insel.ch
  • Published 2 February 2009

Summary

Despite their relevance for locomotion and social interaction in everyday situations, little is known about the cortical control of vertical saccades in humans. Results from microstimulation studies indicate that both frontal eye fields (FEFs) contribute to these eye movements. Here, we present a patient with a damaged right FEF, who hardly made vertical saccades during visual exploration. This finding suggests that, for the cortical control of exploratory vertical saccades, integrity of both FEFs is indeed important.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

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