Abstract
This paper attempts to verify the existence of potentially diagnostically significant periodic signals thought to exist in recordings of neural activity originating from the vestibular nerve, following a single tilt of the head. It then attempts to find the physiological basis of this signal, in particular focusing on the mechanical response of the vestibular system. Simple mechanical models of the semi circular canals having angular velocities applied to them were looked at. A simple single canal model was simulated usingCFX software. Finally, a simple model of all three canals with elastic duct walls and a moving cupula was constructed. Pressure waves within the canals were simulated usingwater hammer orpressure transient theory. In particular, it was investigated whether pressure waves within the utricle following a square pulse angular velocity applied to the canal(s) may be responsible for quasi-periodic oscillatory signals. The simulations showed that there are no pressure waves resonating within the canals following a square pulse angular velocity applied to the canal(s). The results show that the oscillatory signals are most likely not mechanical in origin. It was concluded that further investigation is required.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hain, T. C.,ECOG Testing, http://www.dizziness-andalance. com/testing/ecog.html, 2004.
Chung, W. H.,Clinical usefulness of extratympanic electrocochleography in the diagnosis of Meniere’s disease,. Otol. Neurotol. 25: 144–149, 2004.
Franz, B.,A method of measuring the activity of a biological system, Patent, International publication number WO 02/47547 A1, 2002.
White, F. W.,Fluid Mechanics, Fifth Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2003
Douglas, J. F., Gasiorek, J.M. and Swaffield, J.A.,Fluid Mechanics, Third Edition, Longman, 1995.
Streeter, V. L., Wylie, E.B. and Bedford, K.W.,Fluid Mechanics, Ninth Edition, McGraw-Hill International Edition, 1998.
Wilson, V. J. and Jones, G.M.Mammalian Vestibular Physiology, Plenum Press, New York, 1979.
Baloh, R. W. and Honrubia, V.,Clinical Neurophysiology of the Vestibular System, Third Edition, Oxford University Press, 2001.
Rabbitt, R. D. and Highstein, S.M.,Influence of Surgical Plugging on Horizontal Semicircular Canal Mechanics and Afferent Response Dynamics, The Journal of Neurophysiology, 82: 1033–1052, 1999.
Rabbitt, R. D. and Damiano, E. R.,A hydro elastic model of macro mechanics in the endolymphatic vestibula canal, The Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 238: 337–369, 1992.
Damiano, E. R. and Rabbitt, R. D.,A Singular Perturbation Model of Fluid Dynamics in the Vestibular Semicircular Canal and Ampulla, The Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 307: 333–372, 1996.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Heibert, D., Lithgow, B. Modelling the vestibular head tilt response. Australas. Phys. Eng. Sci. Med. 28, 37 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03178862
Received:
Accepted:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03178862