Voluntary nystagmus

[Punoqllads]

Column here.

There’s actually a 1978 research paper that, since it was funded by the NIH, is available as a PDF: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC493105/pdf/jnnpsyc00145-0037.pdf

@Abstract

A survey of a college age population revealed that 8% could produce voluntary nystagmus. Seventy-nine per cent of this sample had relatives who could also produce it. A systematic investigation of the characteristics of voluntary nystagmus under a number of stimulus conditions showed that it resembles pendular nystagmus in waveform, and certain ocular oscillations, such as ocular flutter and opsoclonus, in frequency. The results indicate that voluntary nystagmus can be differentiated from other forms of nystagmus by its frequency, duration, and occurrence in individuals whose neuro-ophthalmological examination is normal. Voluntary nystagmus probably involves the “hold” mechanism of the cerebellar nuclei because of its frequency correspondence to ocular oscillations which result from a dysfunction in this anatomical area.

I don’t know if Cecil used it for his research, but the info that 8% of people surveyed were found to have this ability, and that it appears strongly tied to genetics might be good addenda to the column.

[Irishman]

I can do this. Wiggle my eye at will. It freaks people out. Not particularly useful, but just something odd to do, like roll your tongue in a circle, touch your nose with your tongue, wiggle your ears, etc.

From the perspective of the wiggler, things go blurry and you can see the background shifting around but can’t focus.

I have met one other person who could do this and showed me what it looks like. Weird.

[Punoqllads]

Yeah, I can do it, too. That’s why I went a-lookin’.

[TubaDiva]

I’ve kicked this over to Ed, thanks for the reference.