Perceptual Adaptation in the Vestibulo-Ocular System: EEG Correlates of Spatial and Temporal Rearrangement

Abstract

Spatial-temporal visuomotor rearrangement caused pursuit eye movements to counteract the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). Vertical head nodding produced horizontal oscillations of a light spot delayed 1 or 150 msec. Adaptation resulted in apparent complementary motion of a stationary stimulus during nodding. 16 subjects adapted and tested at 150 msec. showed a 10% magnitude apparent motion. Following normal vision, while the electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded, subjects were readapted at 150 msec. but tested at 1 msec. (to measure temporal generalization). Individual performance was correlated with EEG alpha. Adaptation correlated negatively with Oz and Fz intensity, and positively with Oz frequency. Temporal generalization correlated positively with Oz intensity and negatively with Oz - Fz phase angle. These results suggest that visuomotor adaptability is related to electrocortical activity.