Changes in sensitivity of vestibular nucleus neurons induced by cross-axis adaptation of the vestibulo-ocular reflex in the cat

Brain Res. 1996 Apr 29;718(1-2):176-80. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(96)00013-3.

Abstract

In alert, chronically-prepared cats, we studied response characteristics of well-isolated vestibular nucleus neurons (n = 9) while pairing yaw rotation with a pitch optokinetic stimulus, resulting in cross-axis adaptation of the horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex. Each neuron's sensitivity to whole body rotation in a variety of axes in three-dimensional space was determined. When tested in darkness following adaptation, neurons showed statistically significant increases in sensitivity to yaw but not vertical plane rotations, suggesting participation in reflex plasticity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cats
  • Dark Adaptation / physiology*
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Reflex, Monosynaptic / physiology
  • Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular / physiology*
  • Rotation
  • Vestibular Nuclei / cytology
  • Vestibular Nuclei / physiology*