scholarly journals Relation Between Perception of Vertical Axis Rotation and Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex Symmetry

1992 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-69
Author(s):  
Robert J. Peterka ◽  
Martha S. Benolken
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Errors ◽  
Rotational Velocity ◽  
Vestibular Function ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Perceptual Bias ◽  
Common Source ◽  
Ocular Reflex ◽  
Small Constant ◽  
Vestibulo Ocular Reflex ◽  
Axis Rotation

Subjects seated in a vertical axis rotation chair controlled their rotational velocity by adjusting a potentiometer. Their goal was to null out pseudorandom rotational perturbations in order to remain perceptually stationary. Most subjects showed a slow linear drift of velocity (a constant acceleration) to one side when they were deprived of an earth-fixed visual reference. The amplitude and direction of this drift can be considered a measure of a static bias in a subject’s perception of rotation. The presence of a perceptual bias is consistent with a small, constant imbalance of vestibular function that could be of either central or peripheral origin. Deviations from perfect vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) symmetry are also assumed to be related to imbalances in either peripheral or central vestibular function. We looked for correlations between perceptual bias and various measures of vestibular reflex symmetry that might suggest a common source for both reflexive and perceptual imbalances. No correlations were found. Measurement errors could not account for these results since repeated tests in the same subjects of both perceptual bias and VOR symmetry were well correlated.

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.

Recovery of vestibulo-ocular reflex-function in subjects with an acute unilateral peripheral vestibular deficit

1999 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.H.J. Allum ◽  
T. Ledin
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Vestibular Function ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Horizontal Semicircular Canal ◽  
Ocular Reflex ◽  
Vestibulo Ocular Reflex ◽  
Central Compensation ◽  
Head Rotations ◽  
Vestibular Deficit

The centrally controlled compensation for a reduced horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain caused by a unilateral afferent deficit is usually studied following a selective surgical procedure which completely lesions the vestibular nerve or blocks the horizontal semicircular canal. The more common, unilateral, vestibular deficit encountered clinically, is a partial loss of peripheral vestibular function, following which peripheral recovery and/or central compensation may occur. We investigated changes of the VOR gain in response to a sudden, idiopathic, unilateral vestibular deficit in 64 subjects by examining the responses to low-frequency, whole-body, rotations about an earth vertical axis with different accelerations (5, 20 and 40 deg / sec 2 ) during in- and out-patient visits separated by 4 months in an attempt to identify changes brought about by peripheral recovery and by central compensation processes. Peripheral function was assumed to be measured by the response to caloric irrigation. It improved some 30% between the two visits. VOR responses for rotations towards the deficit side also improved between the two visits. Most improvement occurred for 20 deg / sec 2 accelerations. However, the correlation coefficient between rotation and caloric responses was always less than 0.6. Unlike caloric responses which improved over time, responses for rotations to the intact side did not change between the visits. For this reason, the majority of observed VOR rotation responses were nearly symmetrical at the time of the second visit, despite being below normal levels. These findings suggest that both peripheral recovery and central compensation processes help restore symmetrical VOR function for head rotations after a partial unilateral vestibular deficit. However the improvement of VOR response symmetry, particularly to slow ( < 40 deg / sec 2 ) accelerations, is largely independent of the recovery of peripheral sensitivity.

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.

Plasticity of the human vestibulo-ocular reflex during off-vertical axis rotation

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 395-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masatoshi Akutsu ◽  
Akemi Sugita-Kitajima ◽  
Koshi Mikami ◽  
Izumi Koizuka
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Ocular Reflex ◽  
Vestibulo Ocular Reflex ◽  
Axis Rotation

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.

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.

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