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Identification of the central vestibular projections in man: a positron emission tomography activation study

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Abstract

The cerebral representation of space depends on the integration of many different sensory inputs. The vestibular system provides one such input and its dysfunction can cause profound spatial disorientation. Using positron emission tomography (PET), we measured regional cerebral perfusion with various vestibular stimulations to map central vestibular projections and to investigate the cerebral basis of spatial disorientation. We showed that the temporoparietal cortex, the insula, the putamen, and the anterior cingulate cortex are the cerebral projections of the vestibular system in man and that the spatial disorientation caused by unilateral vestibular stimulation is associated with their asymmetric activation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Cyclotron Unit, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, W12 OHS, London, UK

    Gabriella Bottini, Eraldo Paulesu, Chris D. Frith & Richard S. J. Frackowiak

  2. Divisione Neurologia, Ospedale Niguarda, Piazza Ospedale 5, I-20139, Milan, Italy

    Gabriella Bottini, Roberto Sterzi & Francesco Erminio

  3. Dipartimento di Psicologia, Universita' “La Sapienza”, Via dei Marsi 78, I-00185, Rome, Italy

    Giuseppe Vallar

  4. Divisione Neurologia II, Ospedale Civile, Universita' di Brescia, P.le Ospedale 1, I-25125, Brescia, Italy

    Stefano F. Cappa

  5. Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, South Park Road, OX1 3UD, Oxford, UK

    Richard E. Passingham

  6. Psychology Department, University College of London, Gower Street, WC1 E6TB, London, UK

    Chris D. Frith

Authors
  1. Gabriella Bottini
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  2. Roberto Sterzi
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  3. Eraldo Paulesu
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  4. Giuseppe Vallar
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  5. Stefano F. Cappa
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  6. Francesco Erminio
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  7. Richard E. Passingham
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  8. Chris D. Frith
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  9. Richard S. J. Frackowiak
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Bottini, G., Sterzi, R., Paulesu, E. et al. Identification of the central vestibular projections in man: a positron emission tomography activation study. Exp Brain Res 99, 164–169 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00241421

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00241421

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