Modeling the three neuron vestibulo-ocular reflex arc: contribution to eye movement computation

A model of the vestibulo-ocular reflex was built using neural network techniques. The network has three levels, corresponding to the three cell types which compose the basic reflex. The model´s performance was tested by supplying single-frequency sinusoidal stimuli as input and measuring the gain and phase of the output waveforms generated. Network parameters were tuned for optimum performance at two different input frequencies and the model was tested across a range of frequencies. Gain and phase relationships generated by the model correspond in general to those observed in the normally functioning reflex, but the frequency tuning of the network is much narrower. The significance of these results in relationship to other models of the vestibulo-ocular reflex is discussed