The Influence of Eye Movements and Tactile Information on Postural Sway in Patients with Peripheral Vestibular Lesions

Abstract

The statokinesigram of the 16 benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) patients and the 28 vestibular deficits (VDS) patients were analyzed in comparison with the 20 normal subjects (NS). Velocity of the track (LNG/T), root mean square (RMS), and standard deviation area (SD-Area) were used as parameters. Fourteen different tests were done. When the result for each subject group were analyzed there were interesting differences between the compensated VDS and BPPV patients and between the untreated period and the compensated stage in each patient group. Comparing the data between NS and BPPV at the compensated stage, the latter group was unstable while watching LED with OKN on the tactile information plate (S-G plate). The significant differences were for RMS and SD-Area. The data of the NS and the untreated VDS show that the latter group was more unstable while watching LED with OKN than in the dark on the S-G plate. According to the data of the NS and the VDS at the compensated stage, the latter group was more unstable during OKN or watching LED which was almost the same as in the dark on both plate conditions. And it was more unstable while watching LED than during OKN on the S-G plate. The significant differences were for velocity of body sway (LNG/T). The neural region for compensation in BPPV patients might be on the visuo-oculomotor pathway through the peripheral retina. One of the most important regions for compensation in VDS patients might be in the rombencephalic reticular formation.