ABSTRACT
In order to allow the vision to work effectively during head movements, a method has evolved to stabilize the image. The vestibular ocular reflex (VOR) serves this function. During head movements, signals are sent from the vestibular system through the vestibular nuclei to the extra oculomotor nuclei and from there to the small ciliary muscles of the eyes. As it is driven by angular accelerations from the vestibular system, the VOR will function in complete darkness as well as when light is present. Contrasting this with the optokinetic reflex (OKR), another reflex is designed to stabilize visual images, but driven only by visual cues (retinal image blurring) when the visual image is in motion.
