RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Torsional deviations with voluntary saccades caused by a unilateral midbrain lesion
JF BMJ Case Reports
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP bcr0820080807
DO 10.1136/bcr.08.2008.0807
VO 2009
A1 Kremmyda, Olympia
A1 Büttner-Ennever, Jean A
A1 Büttner, Ulrich
A1 Glasauer, Stefan
YR 2009
UL http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2009/bcr.08.2008.0807.abstract
AB Three dimensional eye rotations were measured using the magnetic search coil technique in a patient with a lesion of the right rostral interstitial nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus (RIMLF) and in four control subjects. Up to 10° contralesional torsional deviations with each voluntary saccade were revealed, which also could be seen during bedside examination. There was no spontaneous nystagmus. Based on MRI criteria, the lesion involved the RIMLF but spared the interstitial nucleus of Cajal. To date, this deficit has not been described in patients. Our results support the hypothesis that the vertical-torsional saccade generator in humans is organised similarly as in monkeys: each RIMLF encodes torsional saccades in one direction, while both participate in vertical saccades.