An electronystagmographic technic for the examination of vestibular function

NEUROLOGISTS HAVE recently shown increasing interest in precision methods of measuring the functional activity of the various sense modalities. Attention is being focused on the vestibular system since 10 per cent of neurologic patients admitted to hospitals are reported to suffer from dizziness.1 This paper discusses our use of electronystagmography (ENG) to examine the vestibular system. This is accomplished by examining for spontaneous nystagmus and examining nystagmus induced by caloric stimulation. Caloric electronystagmography is essentially a test of the vestibulaocular reflex. Although objective quantit a t’ we measures of other vestibular reflexes, for example the vestibulospinal2 and the vestibulovegetative? reflex, have been developed, examination of the vestibuloocular reflex has been, and still is, the principd method of examining vestibular function.