Computational Study on Monkey VOR Adaptation and Smooth Pursuit Based on the Parallel Control-Pathway Theory

Abstract

Much controversy remains about the site of learning and memory for vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) adaptation in spite of numerous previous studies. One possible explanation for VOR adaptation is the flocculus hypothesis, which assumes that this adaptation is caused by synaptic plasticity in the cerebellar cortex. Another hypothesis is the model proposed by Lisberger that assumes that the learning that occurs in both the cerebellar cortex and the vestibular nucleus is necessary for VOR adaptation. Lisberger's model is characterized by a strong positive feedback loop carrying eye velocity information from the vestibular nucleus to the cerebellar cortex. This structure contributes to the maintenance of a smooth pursuit driving command with zero retinal slip during the steady-state phase of smooth pursuit with gain 1 or during the target blink condition. Here, we propose an alternative hypothesis that suggests that the pursuit driving command is maintained in the medial superior temporal (MST) area based on MST firing data during target blink and during ocular following blank, and as a consequence, we assume a much smaller gain for the positive feedback from the vestibular nucleus to the cerebellar cortex. This hypothesis is equivalent to assuming that there are two parallel neural pathways for controlling VOR and smooth pursuit: a main pathway of the semicircular canals to the vestibular nucleus for VOR, and a main pathway of the MST—dorsolateral pontine nuclei (DLPN)—flocculus/ventral paraflocculus to the vestibular nucleus for smooth pursuit. First, we theoretically demonstrate that this parallel control-pathway theory can reproduce the various firing patterns of horizontal gaze velocity Purkinje cells in the flocculus/ventral paraflocculus dependent on VOR in the dark, smooth pursuit, and VOR cancellation as reported in Miles et al. at least equally as well as the gaze velocity theory, which is the basic framework of Lisberger's model. Second, computer simulations based on our hypothesis can stably reproduce neural firing data as well as behavioral data obtained in smooth pursuit, VOR cancellation, and VOR adaptation, even if only plasticity in the cerebellar cortex is assumed. Furthermore, our computer simulation model can reproduce VOR adaptation automatically based on a heterosynaptic interaction model between parallel fiber inputs and climbing fiber inputs. Our results indicate that different assumptions about the site of pursuit driving command maintenance computationally lead to different conclusions about where the learning for VOR adaptation occurs. Finally, we propose behavioral and physiological experiments capable of discriminating between these two possibilities for the site of pursuit driving command maintenance and hence for the sites of learning and memory for VOR adaptation.