Velocity storage in the human vertical rotational vestibulo-ocular reflex

Exp Brain Res. 2011 Mar;209(1):51-63. doi: 10.1007/s00221-010-2518-6. Epub 2010 Dec 19.

Abstract

Human horizontal rotational vestibulo-ocular reflex (rVOR) has been extensively investigated: the horizontal semicircular canals sense yaw rotations with high-pass filter dynamics and a time constant (TC) around 5 s, yet the rVOR response shows a longer TC due to a central processing stage, known as velocity storage mechanism (VSM). It is generally assumed that the vertical rVOR behaves similarly to the horizontal one; however, VSM processing of the human vertical rVOR is still to be proven. We investigated the vertical rVOR in eight healthy human subjects using three experimental paradigms: (1) per- and post-rotatory around an earth-vertical axis (ear down rotations, EDR), (2) post-rotatory around an earth-horizontal axis with different stopping positions (static otolith stimulation), (3) per-rotatory around an earth-horizontal axis (dynamic otolith stimulation). We found that the TC of vertical rVOR responses ranged 3-10 s, depending both on gravity and on the direction of rotation. The shortest TC were found in response to post-rotatory earth-horizontal stimulation averaging 3.6 s, while they were prolonged in EDR stimulation, i.e. when the head angular velocity vector is aligned with gravity, with a mean value of about 6.0 s. Overall, the longest TC were observed in per-rotatory earth-horizontal stimulation, averaging 7.8 s. The finding of longer TC in EDR than in post-rotatory earth-horizontal stimulation indicates a role for the VSM in the vertical rVOR, although its contribution appears to be weaker than on the horizontal rVOR and may be directionally asymmetric. The results from per-rotatory earth-horizontal stimulation, instead, imply a role for the otoliths in controlling the duration of the vertical rVOR response. We found no reorientation of the response toward earth horizontal, indicating a difference between human and monkey rVOR.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain / physiology
  • Female
  • Fixation, Ocular / physiology
  • Gravity Sensing / physiology*
  • Head Movements / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motion Perception / physiology*
  • Nystagmus, Optokinetic / physiology
  • Otolithic Membrane / physiology
  • Postural Balance / physiology*
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular / physiology*
  • Rheology / methods
  • Rotation / adverse effects
  • Saccule and Utricle / physiology*
  • Semicircular Canals / physiology*