Vestibular test results related to stimulation intensity

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Abstract
The application of several stimulation intensities in vestibular testing leads us to some new considerations about the interpretation of vestibular test results. Indeed, in the ordinary testing procedures, only one stimulation intensity is used. The results thus obtained are considered to reflect the functional capacity of the system examined and are taken to be absolute. However, when we apply different intensities, we can see that in not a negligible number of cases, the results are very different and are related to the intensity applied. On the one hand, this provides some interesting supplementary information about vestibular function which can be expressed in the notions of ‘recruitment’ and ‘decruitment’, or rather of ‘labile’ and ‘stable’ function. On the other hand, as we only use one stimulation intensity in our ordinary tests, we have to be very cautious and to consider their results always in relation to the applied stimulus. We should always remember that, in some cases, the results might be different if we were to apply a different intensity. This is also very important when we compare the results of different authors, using different stimulation techniques.

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