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Relationship of cat vestibular neurons to otolith-spinal reflexes

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Summary

The dynamics of neurons in the vestibular nuclei of canal-plugged, decerebrate cats were studied in response to lateral (roll) tilt. Forelimb and neck extensor reflexes recorded simultaneously develop a progressive phase lag above 0.1 Hz. Neurons which exhibited a muscle-like phase lag were excited during low frequency stimuli by ipsilateral side-up tilt (beta response). Neurons with alpha responses, excited during side-down tilt, exhibited a constant phase, without a high frequency lag. Vestibulospinal neurons were present in both of these response groups, as were units driven at monosynaptic latencies by electrical stimulation of the ipsilateral labyrinth. The phase-lagging beta responses are appropriate for contributing to the reflexes observed in the ipsilateral neck and contralateral forelimb.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, 10021, New York, NY, USA

    R. H. Schor & A. D. Miller

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  1. R. H. Schor
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  2. A. D. Miller
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Partially supported by NASA grant NSG-2380 and NIH grant NS02619

NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship PHS NS06128

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Schor, R.H., Miller, A.D. Relationship of cat vestibular neurons to otolith-spinal reflexes. Exp Brain Res 47, 137–144 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235895

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235895

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