oculocephalic reflex /ok′yəlō′səfal″ik/ [L, oculus + Gk, kephale, head; L, reflectere, to bend backward] , a test of the integrity of brainstem function. When the patient’s head is quickly moved to one side and then to the other, the eyes will normally lag behind the head movement and then slowly assume the midline position. Failure of the eyes to either lag properly or revert back to the midline in an adult indicates a lesion on the ipsilateral side at the brainstem level. Also called doll’s head maneuver.
