[Interlabyrinthine otolithic symmetry and asymmetry as factors in canal-otolith interaction]

The intact and operated (unilateral cutting of utricular or saccular nerve branches) pigeons were exposed to rotations in the horizontal plane. The position of the pigeon with respect to the rotation axis was such that horizontal canal afferents were activated either separately or together with otolith afferents. The results of canal-otolith interaction did not depend directly on enhancement or diminishing of the otolith afferentation but rather on a relative amount of the otolith signal alterations from the two labyrinths. Any variations of the nystagmus duration (increasing or decreasing) could result from different changes of the otolith signals from the two labyrinths.