Abstract
Vergence eye movements were recorded with the scleral search-coil system in 32 healthy subjects (ages 19-73 years) to characterize the age-related effects on the dynamic parameters of vergence responses to step (transient components) and ramp or sinusoidal targets (sustained components) under natural viewing conditions. Transient vergence showed an age-related increase in latency and decreases in peak velocity and acceleration in the binocular stimulus condition but not in accommodative vergence. Sustained vergence showed no age-related effect in the binocular condition, but there was an age-related decrease in accommodative vergence steady-state velocity and an increase in latency. Age-related changes of the transient and sustained components were very similar to those reported for saccades and smooth pursuit; they thus might support a distinction between a sustained and transient vergence system. Furthermore, such age-related effects have to be taken into account when assessing eye movement disorders in neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Neurobiology of Aging |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Pages (from-to) | 163-172 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| ISSN | 0197-4580 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 01.01.2006 |
Research Areas and Centers
- Academic Focus: Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM)
