Res Vestib Sci.  2010 Mar;9(1):1-11.

Understanding of Structure and Function of Vestibular Cortex

• Kim MS
• Lee JH
• Lee GW
• Park BR

Abstract

The vestibular end-organs generate very sophisticated gravity sensory information about head movement by sensing head acceleration in three-dimensional space. Vestibular information is crucial for higher brain functions such as cognition of spatial orientation, spatial memory, and perception of self-motion. The term "vestibular cortex" represents cortical area where vestibular information is processed, converged with other sensory inputs to maintain cortical functions. The vestibular cortex gives rise to commend signals that control the vestibulosomatic reflex through the modulation of vestibular nuclear activity in the brainstem. The vestibular cortex includes such different cortical regions as the premotor region of the frontal cortex, parietal areas, temporal areas, and a central core region called parietoinsular vestibular cortex. This paper summarizes systemically animal and clinical research data concerned with the vestibular cortex in order to understand anatomy and functions of the vestibular cortex and to provide a basic literature for further study.

Keyword

Vestibular system; Vestibular cortex; Thalamic nuclei; Vestibular compensation

MeSH Terms

Acceleration
Animals
Brain
Brain Stem
Cognition
Gravitation
Head
Head Movements
Memory
Orientation
Reflex
Thalamic Nuclei