The role of cervical input in vestibular compensation

Abstract

The role of proprioceptive input from cervical receptors in vestibular compensation was investigated. Vibratory stimulation to the dorsal neck muscle was given to patients with unilateral vestibular lesions. The length of the displacement of the center of gravity, maximum sway length, and sway area increased markedly during vibratory stimulation to the dorsal neck. In patients in whom compensation had been achieved, a position vector to the side of the lesion increased and the center of gravity moved to the side of the lesion. From these results, it can be speculated that cervical input plays an important role in the process of vestibular compensation.