The influence of adaptation on vergence dynamics

We previously proposed a model to study the dynamics of disparity vergence responses. This model was based on known physiology and consisted of pulse and step neural control processes feeding a linear second-order oculomotor plant. Here we apply a slightly modified version of that model to analyze the influence of short-term adaptation on vergence dynamics. This analysis showed that, unlike normal vergence responses, adapted responses could not be accurately simulated without delay between the step and pulse components. We found a strong correlation between delay of the step signal and the size of the overshoot in adapted responses. This correlation suggests an interaction between neural process generating the pulse and step motor control signals