Abstract
Nine normal adults were the subjects of this study. Their horizontal eye movements were recorded with a telemeter during active and passive circular movements. Each subject made two turns to the right with their eyes closed over a circle measuring 2 meters in diameter. An active turn was then made by walking at normal speed, while a passive turn was made in a wheelchair pushed by the examiner at the same speed as the active turn. The maximum slow phase velocity and stroke of nystagmus during such turning were larger in the active movements than in the passive ones, while for after nystagmus they were larger in the passive movements. These results suggest that the vestibulo-ocular reflex thus functions more effectively during active movements.
