False Negative Response From Caloric Stimulation

Abstract

Greisen (1972) has recently drawn attention to “pseudocaloric nystagmus”. The present authors disagree with his interpretation of the evidence he puts forward, but offer an alternative explanation of his evidence and a method for detecting the phenomenon when it occurs. Their arguments also indicate the undesirability of shortening the bithermal caloric test to one temperature only, and the advantages of doing the hot tests before the cold ones.