Duration of Oculogyral Illusion as a Function of the Interval Between Angular Acceleration and Deceleration. Its Significance in Terms of Dynamics of Semicircular Canals in Man

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Abstract
The physiol. stimulus for the semicircular canals is angular acceleration and one of the reflex effects is ocular nystagmus. A person observing an object stationary with respect to himself is not aware of the nystagmus per se but the tracking of the image over the retina during the slow phase is misinterpreted as movement of the object. This apparent motion has been termed the oculogyral illusion and was used as an indicator of stimulation of the semicircular canals. Six subjects were exposed to angular acceleration which, after periods varying from 0-60 secs., was followed by angular deceleration. The duration of the oculogyral illusion was plotted as a function of the interval between acceleration and deceleration. This defined a curve characterized by a steep rise followed by a gradual and continuous rise to a plateau. Interpreted in terms of cupula-endolymph behavior, the curve indicated that recovery was at first rapid then progressively slower, but without overshoot. These findings are not in accord with the current concept that the cupula behaves as a highly damped torsion pendulum, but suggest that it behaves as a critically damped elastic structure.

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