Effect of tongue stimulation on nystagmus eye movements in blind patients

Brain Structure & Function
Amy NauDongsheng Yang

Abstract

We have observed dramatic effects of tactile tongue stimulation on nystagmus eye movements in patients with acquired blindness, and we report these results. Six adult subjects (3 subjects with light perception or worse vision and 3 normal subjects) were included in this study. Causes of blindness included traumatic explosion, anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, and central retinal artery occlusion. Duration of blindness was 15, 3 and 1.5 years, respectively. A video eye tracking system (Eyelink 1000) was used to record eye movements. The eye movement recording (EMR) was repeated four times in a span of 20 min. Two of the EMRs were performed without tongue stimulation and two with tongue stimulation in randomized order. A tongue stimulus was applied to the surface of the tongue using a Brainport device that produces an electrical tactile stimulus. The nystagmus waveform characteristics and frequency were analyzed. We found that all blind subjects showed continuous jerk nystagmus with slow and quick phases, mainly in horizontal plane in their primary eye positions. The recorded nystagmus waveforms were jerk with linear velocity slow phases. When the tongue stimulus was applied, the frequency of nystagmus was significantly reduced...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1987·Journal of Neurology·D Kömpf, H F Piper
Dec 10, 1984·The Journal of Comparative Neurology·T P Langer, C R Kaneko
Jun 1, 1997·Journal of Neuro-ophthalmology : the Official Journal of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society·E F May, A R Truxal
Jun 5, 1998·The British Journal of Ophthalmology·T BlekherL A Abel
Aug 13, 1999·Journal of Neurophysiology·R F LewisB L Guthrie
Nov 21, 2001·Experimental Brain Research·R F LewisR J Tamargo
Nov 5, 2003·Ophthalmology·Richard W HertleSusan D Mellow
Aug 23, 2008·Progress in Brain Research·Paul C Knox
Aug 23, 2008·Progress in Brain Research·Mingsha ZhangMichael E Goldberg
Sep 5, 2008·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Daniela Balslev, R Chris Miall
Aug 12, 2009·Clinical Ophthalmology·Giovanni TaibbiLouis F Dell'Osso
Mar 11, 2011·Human Brain Mapping·Daniela BalslevChris Miall

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 27, 2013·PloS One·Rosalyn M SchneiderR John Leigh
Sep 25, 2014·Pediatric Physical Therapy : the Official Publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association·Regina HarbourneMax J Kurz
Sep 13, 2018·Journal of Vision·Vanessa HarrarAarlenne Zein Khan

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.