Perceptual and Oculomotor Reactions to Interacting Visual and Vestibular Stimulation

Six men received repeated vestibular stimulation under several conditions of visual stimulation. Nystagmus, suppressed during brief room illumination, recovered almost completely in a following period of darkness; the subjective response remained suppressed. A small light (or large fixation field) inhibited nystagmus but did not suppress the subjective response. Apparently any visual still fixation field suppressess nystagmus, but the subjective response depends upon visual sensory information denying relative motion between the fixation field and the earth; intellectual information alone is ineffective. Nystagmic and subjective reactions diminish with repeated rotation. Only the subjective reaction recovered after a 9-day rest. (Author)