Interaction Between the Utricles and the Horizontal Semicircular Canals: I. Unilateral Selective Sectioning of the Horizontal Ampullar Nerve followed by Tilting around the Longitudinal Axis

Abstract

Selective unilateral sectioning of the horizontal ampullar nerve was performed in 48 cats. This resulted in horizontal nystagmus in a contralateral direction. The animals were then tilted around their longitudinal axis, and the effect on nystagmus was studied by visual inspection and electronystagmography. If the cat was tilted to the operated side the nystagmus increased in frequency, whereas if it was tilted to the opposite side the nystagmus frequency decreased. The cause of this is discussed.