It has been reported that vibration applied either on the mastoid or on the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles induces nystagmus in normal subjects or patients after unilateral vestibular neuritis (VN). The aims of the study were to characterize vibration-induced nystagmus (VIN) in normal and patient groups and to propose the mechanism of VIN. We recorded eye movements during unilateral 100-Hz vibration on the mastoid bone and SCM muscles in 22 normal subjects and 19 patients with unilateral VN. In normal subjects, the direction of slow-phase velocity (SPV) tended to be toward the vibrated side. Vibration on the right/left SCM muscles induced mean SPV of 1.7°/s, –1.9°/s toward the stimulated side in all normal subjects. Vibration on the right/left mastoid bone induced mean SPV of 1.5°/s, –0.4°/s toward the stimulated side in most of the normal subjects. Positive value means SPV to the right side. This directional preponderance to the vibrated side was statistically significant. Among the patients with VN, the slow phase of the VIN was directed towards the lesioned side, irrespective of whether vibration was applied on the lesioned or intact side. Vibration on the right/left mastoid bone induced mean SPV of –10.4°/s, –10.8°/s toward the lesioned side. Vibration on the right/left SCM induced mean SPV of –7.9°/s, –10.5°/s toward the lesioned side. The amplitude of SPV showed a significant correlation with the unilateral weakness of caloric test. Our results suggest that the proprioceptive stimulation plays a major role in producing VIN in normal subjects, while VIN is generated mostly by the vestibular stimulation in patients with unilateral VN, which helps us localize the lesion side. Vibration tests on the SCM muscles as well as on the mastoid are recommended and our hypothetic mechanisms of VIN are presented.

Keywords:
Vestibular neuritis, Vertigo, Vibration-induced nystagmus
1.
Baker J, Goldberg J, Peterson B, Schor R: Oculomotor reflexes after semicircular canal plugging in cats. Brain Res 1982;252:151–155.
2.
Bergenius J, Perols O: Vestibular neuritis: a follow-up study. Acta Otolaryngol 1999;119:895–899.
3.
Biguer B, Donaldson IM, Hein A, Jeannerod M: Neck muscle vibration modifies the representation of visual motion and direction in man. Brain 1988;111:1405–1424.
4.
Bronstein AM, Hood JD: The cervico-ocular reflex in normal subjects and patients with absent vestibular function. Brain Res 1986;373:399–408.
5.
Bronstein AM, Morland AB, Ruddock KH, Gresty MA: Recovery from bilateral vestibular failure: implications for visual and cervico-ocular function. Acta Otolaryngol Suppl 1995;520:405–407.
6.
Burke D, Hagbarth KE, Lofstedt L, Wallin BG: The responses of human muscle spindle endings to vibration of non-contracting muscles. J Physiol 1976;261:673–693.
7.
Conley MS, Meyer RA, Bloomberg JJ, Feeback DL, Dudley GA: Noninvasive analysis of human neck muscle function. Spine 1995;20:2505–2512.
8.
Dichgans D, Bizzi E, Morasso P, Tagliasco V: Mechanisms underlying recovery of eye-head coordination following bilateral labyrinthectomy in monkeys. Exp Brain Res 1973;18:548–562.
9.
Dieringer N: ‘Vestibular compensation’: neural plasticity and its relations to functional recovery after labyrinthine lesions in frogs and other vertebrates. Prog Neurobiol 1995;46:97–129.
10.
Fetter M, Dichgans J: Vestibular neuritis spares the inferior division of the vestibular nerve. Brain 1996;119:755–763.
11.
Fitzgerald T: Sternomastoid paradox. Clin Anat 2001;14:330–331.
12.
Freeman S, Sichel JY, Sohmer H: Bone conduction experiments in animals-evidence for a non-osseous mechanism. Hear Res 2000;146:72–80.
13.
Goodwin GM, McCloskey DI, Matthews PB: The contribution of muscle afferents to kinaesthesia shown by vibration induced illusions of movement and by the effects of paralysing joint afferents. Brain 1972;95:705–748.
14.
Gresty MA, Hess K, Leech J: Disorders of the vestibulo-ocular reflex producing oscillopsia and mechanisms compensating for loss of labyrinthine function. Brain 1977;100:693–716.
15.
Halmagyi GM, Yavor RA, Colebatch JG: Tapping the head activates the vestibular system: a new use for the clinical reflex hammer. Neurology 1995;45:1927–1929.
16.
Hamann KF, Schuster EM: Vibration-induced nystagmus – a sign of unilateral vestibular deficit. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec 1999;61:74–79.
17.
Hikosaka O, Maeda M: Cervical effects on abducens motoneurons and their interaction with vestibulo-ocular reflex. Exp Brain Res 1973;18:512–530.
18.
Hudspeth AJ: Mechanoelectrical transduction by hair cells of the bullfrog’s sacculus. Prog Brain Res 1989;80:129–135.
19.
Huygen PL, Verhagen WI, Nicolasen MG: Cervico-ocular reflex enhancement in labyrinthine-defective and normal subjects. Exp Brain Res 1991;87:457–464.
20.
Karlberg M, Aw ST, Black RA, Todd MJ, MacDougall HG, Halmagyi GM: Vibration-induced ocular torsion and nystagmus after unilateral vestibular deafferentation. Brain 2003;126:956–964.
21.
Kelders WP, Kleinrensink GJ, van der Geest JN, Feenstra L, de Zeeuw CI, Frens MA: Compensatory increase of the cervico-ocular reflex with age in healthy humans. J Physiol 2003;553:311–317.
22.
Lackner JR, Levine MS: Changes in apparent body orientation and sensory localization induced by vibration of postural muscles: vibratory myesthetic illusions. Aviat Space Environ Med 1979;50:346–354.
23.
Mayoux-Benhamou MA, Revel M, Vallee C: Selective electromyography of dorsal neck muscles in humans. Exp Brain Res 1997;113:353–360.
24.
Ohbayashi S, Oda M, Yamamoto M, Urano M, Harada K, Horikoshi H, Orihara H, Kitsuda C: Recovery of the vestibular function after vestibular neuronitis. Acta Otolaryngol 1993;503:31–34.
25.
Popov KE, Lekhel H, Faldon M, Bronstein AM, Gresty MA: Visual and oculomotor responses induced by neck vibration in normal subjects and labyrinthine-defective patients. Exp Brain Res 1999;128:343–352.
26.
Roll JP, Vedel JP: Kinaesthetic role of muscle afferents in man, studied by tendon vibration and microneurography. Exp Brain Res 1982;47:177–190.
27.
Schweigart G, Chien RD, Mergner T: Neck proprioception compensates for age-related deterioration of vestibular self-motion perception. Exp Brain Res 2002;147:89–97.
28.
Sohmer H, Freeman S, Geal-Dor M, Adelman C, Savion I: Bone conduction experiments in humans – a fluid pathway from bone to ear. Hear Res 2000;146:81–88.
29.
Strupp M, Arbusow V, Dieterich M, Sautier W, Brandt T: Perceptual and oculomotor effects of neck muscle vibration in vestibular neuritis. Ipsilateral somatosensory substitution of vestibular function. Brain 1998;121:677–685.
30.
Strupp M, Zingler VC, Arbusow V, Niklas D, Maag KP, Dieterich M, Bense S, Theil D, Jahn K, Brandt T: Methylprednisolone, valacyclovir, or the combination for vestibular neuritis. N Engl J Med 2004;351:354–361.
31.
Taoka N, Mori K, Yamagata Y, Shimo-oku M: Cervical afferent pathway to inferior oblique motoneuron in the cat. Brain Res 1990;510:190–194.
32.
Yagi T, Ohyama Y: Three-dimensional analysis of nystagmus induced by neck vibration. Acta Otolaryngol 1996;116:167–169.
33.
Young ED, Fernandez C, Goldberg JM: Responses of squirrel monkey vestibular neurons to audio-frequency sound and head vibration. Acta Otolaryngol 1977;84:352–360.
© 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel
2007
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.