Abstract
Purpose:
To further investigate the direction of (I) nystagmus and (II) self-motion perception induced by two stimuli: (a) caloric vestibular stimulations and (b) a sudden halt during vertical axis rotation.
Subjects and methods:
Twelve normal humans received caloric stimulation at 44°C, 30°C, and 20°C while in a supine position with the head inclined 30° upwards. In a second test they were rotated around the vertical axis with the head randomly placed in two positions: tilted 30° forward or tilted 60° backward, at a constant velocity of 90°/sec for 2 minutes and then suddenly stopped. After both tests they were asked to describe their sensations of self-motion. Eye movements were recorded with an infrared video-technique.
Results:
Caloric stimulation evoked only horizontal nystagmus in all subjects and induced a non-uniform complex perception of angular in frontal and transverse planes (the former dominated) and linear movements along the antero-posterior axis (sinking dominated) of the subject's coordinates. The self-motion was felt with the whole body or with a part of the body. Generally the perception evoked by cold (30°C) and warm (44°C) calorics was similar, although there were some differences. The stronger stimulus (20°C) evoked not only quantitative but also qualitative differences in perception. The abrupt halt of rotation induced self-motion perception and nystagmus only in the plane of rotation. The self-motion was felt with the whole body.
Conclusion:
There was no difference in the nystagmus evoked by caloric stimulation and a sudden halt of vertical axis rotation (in head positions to stimulate the horizontal canals); however, the two stimuli evoked different perceptions of self-motion. Calorics provoked the sensation of self-rotation in the frontal plane and linear motion, which did not correspond to the direction of nystagmus, as well as arcing and a reset phenomenon during angular and linear self-motion, caloric-induced self-motion can be felt predominantly or only with a part of the body, depending on the self-motion intensity. The findings indicate that, unlike the self-motion induced by sudden halt of vertical axis rotation, several mechanisms take part in generating caloric-induced self-motion.