Studies on the integrative activity of the vestibular nuclei complex

Central mechanisms currently used in clinical vestibular tests are far more complex than generally thought. The first synaptic station, the vestibular nuclei, represents a sensory-motor centre integrating vestibular impulses with proprioceptive afferents from muscles and joints. This convergence can be found on cells with long axons projecting to the oculo-motor system, to the spinal cord and to the thalamus as well as on cells without long projecting axons. There are also vestibulo-motor cells transmitting pure vestibular information.