The Otolithic Reaction on Nystagmus by Caloric Stimulations

Abstract

Experiments with rabbits suggested that the otolithic organ does not produce nystagmus by external stimulation alone, but they maintain certain regulatory function on the nystagmus. Head movement and caloric stimulations were applied to the animals in which spontaneous nystagmus was induced by resecting the ampullar nerve. Nystagmo-graphic recordings of these animals demonstrated changes in frequency of the nystagmus indicating reaction of the otolithic organ. It was observed that the utricle and saccule as suppressive mechanism on the nystagmus in a different manner. the mode of regulatory function of the utricle and the saccule on the nystagmus to one direction is antagonistic in nature.