Unilateral Caloric Habituation of Nystagmus in the Gat: Effects on Rotational and Bilateral Caloric Responses

Abstract

Transfer of habituation of ocular nystagmus from unilateral calorization and from unidirectional rotation to bilateral calorization and to bidirectional rotation was investigated in 00 cats. Reductions in bilateral caloric responses were obtained independent of the intensity of the unilateral caloric habituating- stimuli. Habituation to rotatory stimulation was found to have no effect on responses to bilateral caloric irrigations. Caloric habituation appeared to exert relatively little influence on rotation responses. Additional observations were concerned with retention of habituation, possible sex differences in nystagmic output, “double irrigations”, and the influence of several post-tests on nystagmic responses in the unhabituated direction.