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Dizziness and Cognitive Processes

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Abstract

A set of communicating structures and processes ensures the perfect control of the relationship between our body and the environment in every life conditions. The inputs received from various sensorial receptors are processed, compared, integrated and modulated by the central nervous system (CNS) which finally stores the experiences and programmes the responses to adapt to the ongoing reality. The vestibular system is crucial for the balance function, and it is connected to the whole CNS. The so-called vestibular cortex is a multisensorial cortex because it receives not only vestibular inputs but also somatosensory and visual inputs. The vestibular system is tightly connected also to the limbic system, which in turn regulates emotions, homeostasis and storage of experiences. Vestibular inputs are basic for the topokinetic memory of the hippocampus.

Acute vestibular lesions produce a sudden change in information reaching the CNS and cause serious symptoms and an emotional involvement in the patient. The evolution of vestibular symptoms is linked to the ability of the CNS to adapt to new dangerous conditions thanks to the plasticity of the CNS and the cognitive resources. The adaptation is usually satisfactory but a “vestibular cicatrix” (topokinetic memory disorganisation, spatial working memory deficit, alerting state with abnormal levels of anxiety and depression, errors in cognitive tasks and fewer attentional resources) remains forever. Vestibular adaptation is not constant in time and it depends on many individual factors (age, gender, emotions, stress).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Audio-Vestibology, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale of Modena, Ramazzini Hospital of Carpi, Piazzale Donatori di sangue 3, Carpi, 41012, Italy

    Giorgio Guidetti

  2. Department of Audio-Vestibology, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale of Modena Ramazzini Hospital of Carpi, Auckland, New Zealand

    Riccardo Guidetti

Authors
  1. Giorgio Guidetti
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  2. Riccardo Guidetti
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Correspondence to Giorgio Guidetti .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy

    Bruno Colombo

  2. Dept of ENT, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy

    Roberto Teggi

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Guidetti, G., Guidetti, R. (2014). Dizziness and Cognitive Processes. In: Colombo, B., Teggi, R. (eds) Vestibular Migraine and Related Syndromes. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07022-3_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07022-3_14

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-07021-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-07022-3

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