How does cerebellar damage cause nystagmus?

How does cerebellar damage cause nystagmus?

According to this hypothesis, damage to the flocculus could release the tonic inhibition upon the vestibular nuclei associated with the upward VOR and therefore lead to slow, upward drifts of the eyes followed by corrective, quick phases downwards (downbeat nystagmus).

What kind of nystagmus is indicative of cerebellar abnormality?

Gaze-evoked nystagmus, a common sign of cerebellar dysfunction, could then be interpreted as a disorder in a neural network that mathematically integrates a velocity (move) command into a position (holding) command.

What does the cerebellum do with the eye movement?

The cerebellum plays a pivotal role in the control of eye movements. Its core function is to optimize ocular motor performance so that images of objects of interest are promptly brought to the fovea – where visual acuity is best – and kept quietly there, so the brain has time to analyze and interpret the visual scene.

Is nystagmus caused by brain damage?

Although there are several areas of the brain that control eye movement, nystagmus is most often associated with damage to the cerebellum or brainstem. Damage to the inner ear can also lead to nystagmus. The inner ear is part of the vestibular system, which helps the body maintain its balance.

What part of the brain is affected by nystagmus?

What causes nystagmus? Jerk nystagmus usually results from diseases affecting the inner ear balance mechanisms or the back part of the brain (brainstem or cerebellum). Pendular nystagmus can result from brain diseases such as multiple sclerosis, but can be a congenital problem as well.

What part of the brain controls nystagmus?

Cerebellum: The cerebellum is the region of your brain that controls balance. Damage to the cerebellum, such as from a tumor or stroke, may cause nystagmus.

Which part of the cerebellum controls eye movements?

The main cerebellar structures involved in pursuit eye movements are the flocculus-paraflocculus, OMV, CFN, and ansiform lobule (hemisphere lobule VII). The nodulus, uvula, and lateral cerebellar hemispheres also contribute to pursuit (7,75–83).

What part of the brain causes nystagmus?

What happens when there is damage to the cerebellum?

Damage to the cerebellum can lead to: 1) loss of coordination of motor movement (asynergia), 2) the inability to judge distance and when to stop (dysmetria), 3) the inability to perform rapid alternating movements (adiadochokinesia), 4) movement tremors (intention tremor), 5) staggering, wide based walking (ataxic gait …