THE APPEARANCE OF COMPENSATORY NYSTAGMUS IN HUMAN SUBJECTS AS A CONDITIONED RESPONSE DURING ADAPTATION TO A CONTINUOUSLY ROTATING ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Seven men lived in a rotating room (5.4 RPM) for 64 hours. Controlled tests before and during this interval demonstrated that Coriolis vestibular phenomena including Coriolis nystagmus diminished markedly. A compensatory nystagmus, induced by head or whole body movements, was recorded more than one hour after the rotation had ceased. Factors of possible significance in conditioning the compensatory nystagmus are: (1) otolith and proprioceptor sensory influx prior to and during discordant canal input; (2) a consistent sensory influx for each stimulusproducing movement; (3) intention in stimulusproducing movements; and (4) visual inhibition. Contributions of compensatory and arousal factors to vestibular suppression are considered in relation to practical problems of transfer of habituation from one acceleration environment to another. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 16, 1961
Accession Number
AD0268793

Entities

People

  • A. Graybiel
  • F.e. Jr. Guedry

Organizations

  • Naval Aerospace Medical Institute

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Environment
  • Inhibition
  • Intervals
  • Motion
  • Nystagmus
  • Rotation

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Psychology

Readers

  • Brain and Cognitive Science; Experimental Psychology; Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Theoretical Analysis.