Gaze‐evoked nystagmus induced by alcohol intoxication

Abstract

The cerebellum is the core structure controlling gaze stability. Chronic cerebellar diseases and acute alcohol intoxication affect cerebellar function, inducing, among others, gaze instability as gaze‐evoked nystagmus. Gaze‐evoked nystagmus is characterized by increased centripetal eye‐drift. It is used as an important diagnostic sign for patients with cerebellar degeneration and to assess the ‘driving while intoxicated’ condition. We quantified the effect of alcohol on gaze‐holding using an approach allowing, for the first time, the comparison of deficits induced by alcohol intoxication and cerebellar degeneration. Our results showed that alcohol intoxication induces a two‐fold increase of centripetal eye‐drift. We establish analysis techniques for using controlled alcohol intake as a model to support the study of cerebellar deficits. The observed similarity between the effect of alcohol and the clinical signs observed in cerebellar patients suggests a possible pathomechanism for gaze‐holding deficits.