Visual motor and visual vestibular interactions

Lab Description

Blik Vooruit - dr. Marlou Kooiker

Despite the advanced medical diagnostic techniques that are available to detect brain damage early in life, the detection of visual processing dysfunctions at a young age is challenging. Subtle deficits in connectivity at a microstructural level are not detected with conventional imaging methods. In addition, the nature and degree of structural damage is not always related to the functional visual consequences. In this project, an eyetracking based paradigm showed promising results to detect visual processing deficits in a nonverbal manner in children born preterm. This opens the possibility to monitor or rehabilitate these deficits before the age of 4 years.

Unravelling the brain’s internal sensory and motor models of standing - dr.ir. Patrick Forbes

Standing balance is generally maintained automatically, without much thought. How are we able to do this? Theory suggests that standing balance relies on internal models within the brain of both sensory and motor systems, which are updated/adapted to predict and compensate for postural disturbances. What remains unanswered is how these internal sensory and motor models separately adapt to changing conditions of standing balance. In this project, the properties of these separate models are uncoupled by using a state-of-the-art robotic balance simulator and novel sensory gain-manipulation techniques.

Development and clinical validation of a sensorimotor screening battery - dr.ir. Johan Pel

The reflex movements that we display as a baby gradually develop into complex goal-directed behavior, which is essential for development and learning. The underlying sensorimotor integration translates visual, vestibular and proprioceptive information into (in)voluntary motor output, such as standing balance or goal-directed behavior. In children, abnormal performance scores of neuropsychological and motor tests signal integration problems. They fail, however, in revealing which underlying functions, e.g. visual, motor or visuomotor integration, are impaired. In our group, we are interested in the clinical relevance of quantitatively assessed (altered) eye, hand and body movements during sensorimotor integration tests in children as well as in elderly.

I-move perimetry - dr.ir. Johan Pel

Visual field examination is routinely performed using standard automated perimetry (SAP). Here, a subject has to learn the correct sequence of actions, to inhibit irrelevant responses and to maintain central fixation. Children between 1-5 years of age cannot possibly comply during such test. In this study, we propose to measure the eye movements as “a physiological response” in testing the visual field in children and elderly. Thus, by analyzing the eye movement responses to stimuli at predefined directions and locations, an objective read-out of the extent and quality of the visual field can be obtained.

Collaborations:

• Royal Dutch Visio (endowed chair: Visual information processing of prof.dr. J. van der Steen)
• Medical and Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India
• Erasmus MC: Geriatrie, Neurologie, KNO
• Erasmus MC - Sophia: Neonatologie, Oogheelkunde, Kindergeneskunde
• Kempenhaeghe