Ocular bobbing: the myth of its localizing value

Abstract

Ocular bobbing is a distinctive eye movement disorder seen in patients with pontine dysfunction. The typical phenomenon consists of abrupt, spontaneous downward jerks of the eyes with a slow return to the midposition in association with paralysis of spontaneous and reflex horizontal eye movements. Bobbing was present in a patient with acute cerebellar hemorrhage in whom no intrapontine lesions could be demonstrated. The myth that this sign is specific for intrapontine destruction has to be abandoned.