Unilateral Peripheral Semicircular Canal Lesion and Off-Vertical Axis Rotation

1996 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 361-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Denise ◽  
C. Darlot ◽  
P. Ignatiew-Charles ◽  
M. Toupet
Keyword(s):  
Semicircular Canal ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Axis Rotation

Vestibulo-ocular function in anxiety disorders

2007 ◽  
Vol 16 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 209-215
Author(s):  
Joseph M. Furman ◽  
Mark S. Redfern ◽  
Rolf G. Jacob
Keyword(s):  
Panic Disorder ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Semicircular Canal ◽  
Constant Velocity ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Velocity Storage ◽  
Movement Response ◽  
Ocular Reflex ◽  
Axis Rotation ◽  
High Degree

Previous studies of vestibulo-ocular function in patients with anxiety disorders have suggested a higher prevalence of peripheral vestibular dysfunction compared to control populations, especially in panic disorder with agoraphobia. Also, our recent companion studies have indicated abnormalities in postural control in patients with anxiety disorders who report a high degree of space and motion discomfort. The aim of the present study was to assess the VOR, including the semicircular canal-ocular reflex, the otolith-ocular reflex, and semicircular canal-otolith interaction, in a well-defined group of patients with anxiety disorders. The study included 72 patients with anxiety disorders (age 30.6 +/− 10.6 yrs; 60 (83.3% F) and 29 psychiatrically normal controls (age 35.0 +/minus; 11.6 yrs; 24 (82.8% F). 25 patients had panic disorder; 47 patients had non-panic anxiety. Patients were further categorized based on the presence (45 of 72) or absence (27 of 72) of height phobia and the presence (27 of 72) or absence (45 of 72) of excessive space and motion discomfort (SMD). Sinusoidal and constant velocity earth-vertical axis rotation (EVAR) was used to assess the semicircular canal-ocular reflex. Constant velocity off-vertical axis rotation (OVAR) was used to assess both the otolith-ocular reflex and static semicircular canal-otolith interaction. Sinusoidal OVAR was used to assess dynamic semicircular canal-otolith interaction. The eye movement response to rotation was measured using bitemporal electro-oculography. Results showed a significantly higher VOR gain and a significantly shorter VOR time constant in anxiety patients. The effect of anxiety on VOR gain was significantly greater in patients without SMD as compared to those with SMD. Anxiety patients without height phobia had a larger OVAR modulation. We postulate that in patients with anxiety, there is increased vestibular sensitivity and impaired velocity storage. Excessive SMD and height phobia seem to have a mitigating effect on abnormal vestibular sensitivity, possibly via a down-weighting of central vestibular pathways.

Contribution of Vestibular Commissural Pathways to Spatial Orientation of the Angular Vestibuloocular Reflex

1997 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 1193-1197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Wearne ◽  
Theodore Raphan ◽  
Bernard Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Orientation ◽  
Semicircular Canal ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Velocity Storage ◽  
Vestibuloocular Reflex ◽  
Time Constants ◽  
Commissural Pathways ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Axis Rotation

Wearne, Susan, Theodore Raphan, and Bernard Cohen. Contribution of vestibular commissural pathways to spatial orientation of the angular vestibuloocular reflex. J. Neurophysiol. 78: 1193–1197, 1997. During nystagmus induced by the angular vestibuloocular reflex (aVOR), the axis of eye velocity tends to align with the direction of gravitoinertial acceleration (GIA), a process we term “spatial orientation of the aVOR.” We studied spatial orientation of the aVOR in rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys before and after midline section of the rostral medulla abolished all oculomotor functions related to velocity storage, leaving the direct optokinetic and vestibular pathways intact. Optokinetic afternystagmus and the bias component of off-vertical-axis rotation were lost, and the aVOR time constant was reduced to a value commensurate with the time constants of primary semicircular canal afferents. Spatial orientation of the aVOR, induced either during optokinetic or vestibular stimulation, was also lost. Vertical and roll aVOR time constants could no longer be lengthened in side-down or supine/prone positions, and static and dynamic tilts of the GIA no longer produced cross-coupling from the yaw to pitch and yaw to roll axes. Consequently, the induced nystagmus remained entirely in head coordinates after the lesion, regardless of the direction of the resultant GIA vector. Gains of the aVOR and of optokinetic nystagmus to steps of velocity were unaffected or slightly increased. These results are consistent with a model in which the direct aVOR pathways are organized in semicircular canal coordinates and spatial orientation is restricted to the indirect (velocity storage) pathways.

Effect of aging on the otolith-ocular reflex

2001 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-103
Author(s):  
Joseph M. Furman ◽  
Mark S. Redfern
Keyword(s):  
Semicircular Canal ◽  
Head Tilt ◽  
Vestibular Function ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Ocular Reflex ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Vestibulo Ocular Reflex ◽  
Older Subjects ◽  
Axis Rotation ◽  
Reflex Time

We assessed the influence of age on the otolith-ocular reflex and semicircular canal-otolith interaction. Healthy young (n=30) and healthy older (n=60) subjects were rotated about an earth vertical axis, and about a 30 degree off-vertical axis. Eye movements during and following rotation were recorded using electro-oculography. Results indicated that there were statistically significant changes in the otolith-ocular reflex and semicircular canal-otolith interaction as a function of age. The modulation component during off-vertical axis rotation (OVAR) was greater in the older group compard to the young adults, whereas the bias component was smaller with advanced age. The foreshortening of the vestibulo-ocular reflex time constant induced by post-rotatory head tilt following cessation of rotation was less prominent in the older group. There were no consistent changes in the semicircular canal-ocular reflex. Overall, response parameters showed more variability in the older subjects. We conclude that age related changes in the otolith-ocular reflex and semicircular canal-otolith interaction are a result primarily of a degradation of central vestibular processing of otolith signals rather than a decline of peripheral vestibular function.

Off-Vertical Axis Rotational Responses in Patients with Unilateral Peripheral Vestibular Lesions

1993 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph M. R. Furman ◽  
Robert H. Schor ◽  
Donald B. Kamerer
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movement ◽  
Semicircular Canal ◽  
Rotational Velocity ◽  
Angular Acceleration ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Otolith Organs ◽  
Rapid Decay ◽  
Axis Rotation

Off-vertical axis rotation (OVAR) stimulates the otolith organs in a manner that is suitable for assessment of the otolith-ocular reflex. To further assess the potential clinical usefulness of OVAR, the eye movement responses of seven patients with surgically confirmed unilateral peripheral vestibular lesions were compared with the eye movement responses of a group of age-matched, healthy, asymptomatic control subjects. Patients and controls were tested with constant velocity rotations that followed a brief period of angular acceleration (velocity trapezoid) using either earth-vertical axis (EVA) rotation or OVAR. Both EVA and OVAR sinusoidal velocity profiles were also performed. Results indicated that each patient had 1) an asymmetric OVAR response, ie, a bias component whose direction was opposite normal when rotating toward the lesioned ear, and 2) a normal modulation component. Population data suggested that patients had 1) a more rapid decay of response than normal subjects during OVAR velocity trapezoids, 2) an increased phase lead as compared to normal subjects during sinusoidal OVAR, and 3) like normal subjects, a less rapid decay of response during OVAR velocity trapezoids than during EVA rotational velocity trapezoids. Taken together, these findings suggest that patients with unilateral peripheral vestibular deficits have abnormal otolith-ocular and semicircular canal—ocular reflexes but that a single labyrinth appears to provide an otolithic signal sufficient for qualitatively normal semicircular canal—otolith interaction.

Off-Vertical Axis Rotation: A Test of the Otolith-Ocular Reflex

1992 ◽  
Vol 101 (8) ◽  
pp. 643-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph M. R. Furman ◽  
Robert H. Schor ◽  
Timothy L. Schumann
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movements ◽  
Semicircular Canal ◽  
Constant Velocity ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Induced Response ◽  
Movement Response ◽  
Ocular Reflex ◽  
Vestibulo Ocular Reflex ◽  
Axis Rotation ◽  
Asymptomatic Subjects

The vestibulo-ocular reflex was studied via off-vertical axis rotation (OVAR) in the dark. The axis of the turntable could be tilted from vertical by up to 30°. Eye movements were measured with electro-oculography. Results from healthy asymptomatic subjects indicated that 1) a reliable otolith-induced response could be obtained during constant velocity OVAR using a velocity of 60°/s with a tilt of 30°; 2) constant velocity OVAR rotation was nausea-producing and, especially if subjects were rotated in the dark about an earth-vertical axis prior to being tilted, disorienting; and 3) sinusoidal OVAR produced minimal nausea; the eye movement response appeared to be the result of a combination of semicircular canal and otolith components. We conclude that OVAR has the potential of becoming a useful method for clinically assessing both the otolith-ocular reflex and semicircular canal—otolith interaction.

Effect of Semicircular Canal Stimulation on the Perception of the Visual Vertical

2003 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 622-630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marousa Pavlou ◽  
Nicole Wijnberg ◽  
Mary E. Faldon ◽  
Adolfo M. Bronstein
Keyword(s):  
Semicircular Canal ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Slow Phase ◽  
Visual Vertical ◽  
Axis Rotation ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Head Positions ◽  
Direction Opposite

The subjective visual vertical (SVV) is usually considered a measure of otolith function. Herewith we investigate the influence of semicircular canal (SCC) stimulation on the SVV by rotating normal subjects in yaw about an earth-vertical axis, with velocity steps of ± 90°/s, for 60 s. SVV was assessed by setting an illuminated line to perceived earth vertical in darkness, during a per- and postrotary period. Four head positions were tested: upright, 30° backward (chin up) or forward, and ∼40° forward from upright. During head upright/backward conditions, a significant SVV tilt ( P < 0.01) in the direction opposite to rotation was found that reversed during postrotary responses. The rotationally induced SVV tilt had a time constant of decay of ∼30 s. Rotation with the head 30° forward did not affect SVV, whereas the 40° forward tilt caused a direction reversal of SVV responses compared with head upright/backward. Spearman correlation values (Rho) between individual SCC efficiencies in different head positions and mean SVV tilts were 0.79 for posterior, 0.34 for anterior, and – 0.80 for horizontal SCCs. Three-dimensional video-oculography showed that SVV and torsional eye position measurements were highly correlated (0.83) and in the direction opposite to the slow phase torsional vestibuloocular reflex. In conclusion: 1) during yaw axis rotation without reorientation of the head with respect to gravity, the SVV is influenced by SCC stimulation; 2) this effect is mediated by the vertical SCCs, particularly the posterior SCCs; 3) rotationally induced SVV changes are due to torsional ocular tilt; 4) SVV and ocular tilts occur in the “anticompensatory,” fast phase direction of the torsional nystagmus; and 5) clinically, abnormal SVV tilts cannot be considered a specific indication of otolith system dysfunction.

Otolith-ocular responses in patients with surgically confirmed unilateral peripheral vestibular loss

2003 ◽  
Vol 13 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 143-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph M. Furman ◽  
Li-Chi Hsu ◽  
Susan L. Whitney ◽  
Mark S. Redfern
Keyword(s):  
Semicircular Canal ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Vestibular Compensation ◽  
Objective Measures ◽  
Vestibular Loss ◽  
Ocular Reflex ◽  
Chronic Effects ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Vestibulo Ocular Reflex ◽  
Axis Rotation

The chronic effects of unilateral peripheral vestibular loss (UPVL) are influenced by vestibular compensation. This study documents the balance-related symptoms and quantitative vestibular laboratory testing of 20 patients with surgically confirmed UPVL. Included are measures of the semicircular canal-ocular reflex, the otolith-ocular reflex, and both static and dynamic semicircular canal-otolith-interaction. This study differs from previous studies of patients with UPVL in that a large number of patients with surgically confirmed lesions were tested with three types of off-vertical axis rotation, several of the patients had anatomically preserved superior vestibular nerves, and self-perceived level of disability related to dizziness and imbalance were available. Results confirmed previously reported changes in the vestibulo-ocular reflex of patients with UPVL. Also, there was no apparent effect of anatomically preserving the superior vestibular nerve during surgical resection of vestibular schwannomas based on either subjective or objective measures of vestibular dysfunction. Further, there were no apparent correlations between subjective measures of dizziness and imbalance and objective measures of vestibulo-ocular function. These results have clinical implications for the management of patients with unilateral vestibular loss and provide insights into the process of vestibular compensation especially with respect to the otolith-ocular reflex.

Zircon geochronology and paleomagnetism of an Archean harzburgite intrusion, eastern Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-40
Author(s):  
Alexandra Wallenberg ◽  
Michelle Dafov ◽  
David Malone ◽  
John Craddock
Keyword(s):  
Hanging Wall ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Strike Slip ◽  
Zircon Geochronology ◽  
Weighted Mean ◽  
Mafic Complex ◽  
Laramide Orogeny ◽  
Axis Rotation ◽  
Bighorn Mountains

A harzburgite intrusion, which is part of the trailside mafic complex) intrudes ~2900-2950 Ma gneisses in the hanging wall of the Laramide Bighorn uplift west of Buffalo, Wyoming. The harzburgite is composed of pristine orthopyroxene (bronzite), clinopyroxene, serpentine after olivine and accessory magnetite-serpentinite seams, and strike-slip striated shear zones. The harzburgite is crosscut by a hydrothermally altered wehrlite dike (N20°E, 90°, 1 meter wide) with no zircons recovered. Zircons from the harzburgite reveal two ages: 1) a younger set that has a concordia upper intercept age of 2908±6 Ma and a weighted mean age of 2909.5±6.1 Ma; and 2) an older set that has a concordia upper intercept age of 2934.1±8.9 Ma and a weighted mean age 2940.5±5.8 Ma. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) was used as a proxy for magmatic intrusion and the harzburgite preserves a sub-horizontal Kmax fabric (n=18) suggesting lateral intrusion. Alternating Field (AF) demagnetization for the harzburgite yielded a paleopole of 177.7 longitude, -14.4 latitude. The AF paleopole for the wehrlite dike has a vertical (90°) inclination suggesting intrusion at high latitude. The wehrlite dike preserves a Kmax fabric (n=19) that plots along the great circle of the dike and is difficult to interpret. The harzburgite has a two-component magnetization preserved that indicates a younger Cretaceous chemical overprint that may indicate a 90° clockwise vertical axis rotation of the Clear Creek thrust hanging wall, a range-bounding east-directed thrust fault that accommodated uplift of Bighorn Mountains during the Eocene Laramide Orogeny.

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