Biasing the semicircular canal cupula in excitatory direction decreases the gain of the vestibuloocular reflex for head impulses

Tamás, László T.; Obrist, Dominik; Avan, Paul; Büki, Béla (2019). Biasing the semicircular canal cupula in excitatory direction decreases the gain of the vestibuloocular reflex for head impulses. Journal of vestibular research, 29(6), pp. 281-286. IOS Press 10.3233/VES-190681

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Background: It has been shown that cold caloric irrigation decreases the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain in the vertically positioned lateral canal as measured by head impulse testing. This effect is most probably caused by a sustained deflection of the cupula in the inhibitory direction.

Objective: The aim of the present experiment was to answer the question if a sustained excitatory deflection increases the gain of the reflex in healthy volunteers.

Methods: In order to deflect the cupula, cold caloric irrigation was applied in prone (forward head hanging) position. In this position cold thermal irrigation elicited an excitatory caloric nystagmus with an ipsilateral fast phase.

Results: When head impulses were applied immediately after cold caloric irrigation, the gain of the VOR decreased in comparison to the values measured before irrigation.

Conclusions: Together with the previous results cited above, these data show that biasing the cupula in either direction decreases its sensitivity with respect to high acceleration stimuli. This might occur because the deviation elicits a partial mechanical and electrophysiological saturation of the cupula.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

10 Strategic Research Centers > ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research > ARTORG Center - Cardiovascular Engineering (CVE)

UniBE Contributor:

Obrist, Dominik

ISSN:

0957-4271

Publisher:

IOS Press

Language:

English

Submitter:

Dominik Obrist

Date Deposited:

04 Feb 2021 11:27

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:32

Publisher DOI:

10.3233/VES-190681

PubMed ID:

31594278

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/135508

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