J Korean Bal Soc.  2007 Dec;6(2):161-166.

Tilt Suppression of the Post-rotatory Nystagmus in Cerebellar Nodular Lesions

• Oh SY
• Choi KD
• Kim JE
• Koo JW
• Kim JS

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Head tilt at the end of step rotation about a vertical axis decreases the time constant (TC) of the post-rotatory nystagmus, which is known as tilt-suppression of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). Tilt suppression of the VOR is mediated by the cerebellar nodulus and ventral uvula and is eliminated after surgical ablation of those structures. However, studies on the tilt suppression of the VOR have been sparse in humans with cerebellar lesions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Five patients with circumscribed cerebellar lesions involving the nodulusor ventral uvula underwent recording of spontaneous and positional nystagmus, and the VOR. To evaluate tilt suppression of the VOR, the participants pitched their head forward at the end of step rotation about a vertical axis both in the clockwise and counter-clockwise directions.
RESULTS
The VOR gain was increased in a patient with infarction in the territory of the medial posterior inferior cerebellar artery while the gain of visually enhanced VOR was normal in all the patients. The time constants of per- and post-rotatory nystagmus was increased in a patient with increased VOR gain and the tilt suppression of the post-rotatory nystagmus was impaired in two patients, either uni- or bilaterally. Spontaneous downbeat and central positional nystagmus were frequently accompanied.
CONCLUSIONS
Nodular lesion may impair tilt suppression of the VOR. Measurement of tilt suppressive effect of the VOR may provide a valuable tool for evaluating the nodular dysfunction.

Keyword

Head-shaking nystagmus; Cerebellum; Nodulus

MeSH Terms

Arteries
Axis, Cervical Vertebra
Cerebellum
Head
Humans
Infarction
Nystagmus, Physiologic*
Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular
Uvula