Influence of Proprioceptive Signals from the Neck Muscles on the Organization of Vestibuloocular Reactions

To gain insight into the influence of the cervical proprioceptive factor on the organization of vestibuloocular reactions, the oculomotor reflexes were studied in patients with asymmetrically increased tone of the neck muscles. It was established that, in the absolute majority of these spasmodic torticollis patients, the active cervicoocular reflex (a-COR) was more intense than the vestibuloocular reflex (VOR). The a-COR was predominant in the direction to the side opposite to the forced turn of the head; i.e., when the head is turned by overcoming the force of the tense cervical muscles, the most powerful nystagmic reaction takes place.