An active efficient coding model of the optokinetic nystagmus

TL;DR

This paper presents a biologically plausible computational model that explains the development of optokinetic nystagmus and related eye movements, integrating neural development, behavior, and experimental perturbations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel framework modeling the joint development of disparity, motion tuning, and eye movements, including behavior and perturbation simulations.

Findings

Model agrees with experimental data on binocular vision and OKN

Simulates effects of induced strabismus on eye movements

Predicts OKN behavior quantitatively

Abstract

Optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) is an involuntary eye movement responsible for stabilizing retinal images in the presence of relative motion between an observer and the environment. Fully understanding the development of optokinetic nystagmus requires a neurally plausible computational model that accounts for the neural development and the behavior. To date, work in this area has been limited. We propose a neurally plausible framework for the joint development of disparity and motion tuning in the visual cortex, the optokinetic and vergence eye movements. This framework models the joint emergence of both perception and behavior, and accounts for the importance of the development of normal vergence control and binocular vision in achieving normal monocular OKN (mOKN) behaviors. Because the model includes behavior, we can simulate the same perturbations as performed in past experiments, such as artificially induced strabismus. The proposed model agrees both qualitatively and quantitatively with a number of findings from the literature on both binocular vision as well as the optokinetic reflex. Finally, our model also makes quantitative predictions about the OKN behavior using the same methods used to characterize the OKN in the experimental literature.