Eye Movements in Response to Electrical Stimulation of the Lateral and Superior Ampullary Nerves

Objectives: Recently, we demonstrated that it was possible to elicit vertical eye movements in response to electrical stimulation of the posterior ampullary nerve. In order to develop a vestibular implant, a second site of stimulation is required to encode the horizontal movements. Methods: Three pa...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of otology, rhinology & laryngology rhinology & laryngology, 2011-02, Vol.120 (2), p.81-87
Main Authors: Guyot, Jean-Philippe, Sigrist, Alain, Pelizzone, Marco, Feigl, Georg C., Kos, Maria Izabel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Electric Stimulation
Eye Movements - physiology
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Meniere Disease - physiopathology
Middle Aged
Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology
Semicircular Canals - innervation
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Objectives: Recently, we demonstrated that it was possible to elicit vertical eye movements in response to electrical stimulation of the posterior ampullary nerve. In order to develop a vestibular implant, a second site of stimulation is required to encode the horizontal movements. Methods: Three patients with disabling Meniere's disease were included in the study. Before a labyrinthectomy via a standard transcanal approach was performed, their lateral and anterior ampullary nerves were surgically exposed under local anesthesia through a procedure we recently developed. The attic was opened, the incus and malleus head were removed, and a small well was drilled above the horizontal portion of the facial nerve canal to place an electrode. This electrode was used to deliver balanced biphasic trains of electrical pulses. Results: The electrical stimuli elicited mainly horizontal nystagmus without simultaneous stimulation of the facial nerve. Conclusions: It is possible to stimulate electrically the lateral and superior ampullary nerves without simultaneous stimulation of the facial nerve. Because the nerves run close to each other, electrical stimulation provoked eye movements that were not purely horizontal, but also had some vertical components. Nevertheless, this site can be used to encode horizontal movements, because central adaptation may correct unnatural afferent vestibular cues delivered by a prosthetic sensor. The range of stimulus intensities that produced a response was broad enough for us to envision the possibility of encoding eye movements of various speeds.
ISSN:0003-4894
1943-572X
DOI:10.1177/000348941112000202