Clinical Neurologic and Electrophysiologic Correlates of Smooth Pursuit Eye Tracking

Smooth pursuit tracking (SPT), a genetically determined function, is a reproducible neurologic marker that is thought to be a measure of involuntary attention. Alteration of SPT can be objectively evaluated and clinically correlated. Using this technique, in a double-blind randomized prospective study, we screened 300 male volunteer college students who subsequently were divided into two groups consisting of the highest accuracy trackers (HAT) and the lowest accuracy trackers (LAT). Ten individuals from HAT and 22 "from LAT (ages 20 to 31) were available for evaluation by clinical neurologic examination, including tests for integration of fine coordination and associated symmetric movements. Each item on the exam was scored from 0 (normal) up to 4 (most severe). An EEG, BAER and VER were obtained as part of the protocol. Seven subjects had abnormalities on one or more of these testings: four in EEGs, four in BAER and two in VER. All except one were in the LAT group. A correlation (p < 0.001) was obtained between low accuracy tracking and total score on the clinical neurologic exam. This approach in looking at a normal population may prove to identify biologic markers which reflect differences in central nervous system functioning that have v neurophysiologic implications.

- April 1981 Neurology (Ny) 31 (2) Page 49