Dynamics of a horizontal saccadic oculomotor system with colored noise

Intermittent nystagmus is a special kind of nystagmus with an irregular attack time. Its pathogenesis remains unclear. Recently, nonlinear dynamic methods used to explore the mechanisms responsible for intermittent nystagmus have received increased attention. The current study examines the dynamic properties of the bistable horizontal saccadic oculomotor system driven by colored noise. The most probable amplitude, stationary probability density of response, and signal-to-noise ratio curves with different parameters are obtained through stochastic numerical simulation. Then, the stochastic P bifurcation and coherent resonance phenomenon of the saccadic oculomotor system are analyzed. Results indicate that inhibition strength, noise intensity, or correlation time could induce stochastic P bifurcation, which may explain the development of intermittent nystagmus. Further, it is found that intermittent nystagmus can be suppressed by increasing inhibition strength, and that correlation time and noise intensity can lead to coherence resonance.