Relation Between Strength Of Stimulus And Nystagmus Frequency In Patients With Menieres Disease

Abstract

Patients with unilateral Menière's disease were accelerated at 1°, 2°, 4°, and 8°/sec². Clockwise and counterclockwise accelerations were applied alternately. Maximal nystagmus frequency was determined for each acceleration. The results were approximately the same on acceleration to the healthy and to the affected ear; but at all acceleration strengths the patients with Menibre's disease had a lower nystagmus frequency than the healthy subjects. This shows that the maximal nystagmus frequzncy cannot be used to demonstrate the differences between the right and the left vestibuloocular reflex in this type of stimulation. Nor can it be used to demonstrate vestibular recruitment. Nystagmus frequency is considered to be regulated by centra other than those regulating the latency time and the duration of poststimulatory nystagmus.