HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 90/2/622    most recent 00960.2002v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (17) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pavlou, M. Articles by Bronstein, A. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pavlou, M. Articles by Bronstein, A. M.

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

Academic Department of Neuro-Otology, Division of Neuroscience and Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Hospital, London W6 8RF, United Kingdom

Submitted 24 October 2002; accepted in final form 15 March 2003

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.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. N. Lorincz and B. J. M. Hess Dynamic Effects on the Subjective Visual Vertical After Roll Rotation J Neurophysiol, August 1, 2008; 100(2): 657 - 669. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R.A.A. Vingerhoets, W. P. Medendorp, and J.A.M. Van Gisbergen Body-Tilt and Visual Verticality Perception During Multiple Cycles of Roll Rotation J Neurophysiol, May 1, 2008; 99(5): 2264 - 2280. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. Pagarkar, D.-E. Bamiou, D. Ridout, and L. M. Luxon Subjective Visual Vertical and Horizontal: Effect of the Preset Angle Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, April 1, 2008; 134(4): 394 - 401. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. De Vrijer, W. P. Medendorp, and J.A.M. Van Gisbergen Shared Computational Mechanism for Tilt Compensation Accounts for Biased Verticality Percepts in Motion and Pattern Vision J Neurophysiol, February 1, 2008; 99(2): 915 - 930. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R.A.A. Vingerhoets, J.A.M. Van Gisbergen, and W. P. Medendorp Verticality Perception During Off-Vertical Axis Rotation J Neurophysiol, May 1, 2007; 97(5): 3256 - 3268. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. G. Kaptein and J. A.M. Van Gisbergen Canal and Otolith Contributions to Visual Orientation Constancy During Sinusoidal Roll Rotation J Neurophysiol, March 1, 2006; 95(3): 1936 - 1948. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. G. Kaptein and J. A. M. Van Gisbergen Nature of the Transition Between Two Modes of External Space Perception in Tilted Subjects J Neurophysiol, June 1, 2005; 93(6): 3356 - 3369. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. G. Kaptein and J. A. M. Van Gisbergen Interpretation of a Discontinuity in the Sense of Verticality at Large Body Tilt J Neurophysiol, May 1, 2004; 91(5): 2205 - 2214. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]