THE EFFECT OF CHANGING THE RESULTANT LINEAR ACCELERATION RELATIVE TO THE SUBJECT ON NYSTAGMUS GENERATED BY ANGULAR ACCELERATION.

Abstract : The effect of centripetal acceleration on nystagmus was studied by placing men at radii of 17 and 20 feet in various orientations relative to the center of rotation. Angular accelerations and decelerations were approximately 10 deg/sec squared. In some of these different positions, the planes of the semicircular canals remained unchanged relative to the plane of rotation, but the orientation of the resultant force relative to the otolith system was changed. In several such situations the magnitude, plane, and direction of nystagmus were changed by centripetal accelerations between 1 and 2 g-units. Results are discussed in terms of otolith modulation of sensory input from the semicircular canals. (Author)