Saccadic characteristics were examined in 15 patients with unilateral
hemispheric stroke. Eye movements were measured by a standard electro-
oculogram technique. In patients with cortical infarcts, mean gain val
ues were lower than in the control subjects for eye movements directed
away from the infarct (contralateral), but higher for eye movements t
owards the infarct (ipsilateral) (p<0.025). We suggest that impairment
of efferent neural signals from the affected hemisphere of stroke pat
ients may decrease excitation of the contralateral neural circuits and
inhibition of the ipsilateral neural circuits of the brainstem saccad
e generator.