Oculomotor function in Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome: I. Saccadic eye movements.

Saccadic eye movements from three patients diagnosed as having Korsakoff's syndrome and one patient who had suffered the acute Wernicke stage of the disorder were examined for changes in saccadic characteristics. The three Korsakoff patients showed increased saccadic latencies; two of the three also had reduced saccadic peak velocities and increased saccadic durations. A higher than expected incidence of hypometric saccades was also found in all four patients; saccadic intrusions were recorded in two Korsakoff patients. These abnormal oculomotor responses were found 2-7 years after the onset of the Korsakoff's syndrome and are consistent with the cerebellar and frontal lobe dysfunction reported in this patient group.