Disruption to higher order processes in Friedreich ataxia

Abstract

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA), the most common of the genetically inherited ataxias, is characterised by ocular motor deficits largely reflecting disruption to brainstem-cerebellar circuitry. These deficits include fixation instability, saccadic dysmetria, disrupted pursuit, and vestibular abnormalities. Whether higher order or cognitive control processes involved the generation of more volitional eye movements are similarly impaired, has not been explored previously. This research examined antisaccade and memory-guided saccade characteristics in 13 individuals with genetically confirmed FRDA, and contrasted performance with neurologically healthy individuals. We demonstrate, for the first time, ..