Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation

In order to gain insight into the origin of the eye movements provoked by galvanic vestibular stimulation, experiments were conducted in rabbits. The animals were subjected to a small galvanic stimulation and to a vestibular stimulation (rotation and sinusoidally changing linear accelerations). Application of several stimuli at the same time shows that the effects on the eye movements of each stimulus given separately are summated. Electric stimulation provoked vestibular reflexes; a stronger effect was observed in unilaterally and in bilaterally labyrinthectomized rabbits. This suggests that there is not only an impact of the oculomotor system but of the peripheral vestibular organs too. The conclusion is drawn that electric stimulation of the vestibular system gives information on the functioning of the labyrinths and also about the side where a labyrinthine lesion is located.