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Updated: May 28, 2026
Assessment of Static Graviceptive Perception in the Roll-Plane using the Subjective Visual Vertical Paradigm
Published on: April 28, 2020
Normative data for the subjective visual vertical test during centrifugation
Faith W Akin1, Owen D Murnane, Amber Pearson
1James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, Mountain Home, TN, USA.
Background:
The otoliths act as gravito-inertial force sensors and contribute to the perception of spatial orientation. The perception of gravitational vertical can be assessed by asking a subject to adjust a light bar to the vertical. Prior to clinical use of the SVV (subjective visual vertical) test, normative data and test-retest reliability must be established.
Purpose:
To obtain normative data and d etermine the test-retest reliability for the SVV test performed in static and dynamic test conditions.
Research Design:
A descriptive design was used to obtain normative data.
Study Sample:
Twenty-four young adults with no history of neurological disease, middle-ear pathology, open or closed head injury, cervical injury, or audiovestibular disorder participated in the study.
Data Collection And Analysis:
The SVV angle was measured in the static position and in three dynamic conditions: (1) on-axis clockwise (CW) rotation, (2) off-axis CW rotation of right ear, and (3) off-axis CW rotation of left ear.
Results:
In young healthy individuals, the SVV was <2° for static and on-axis rotation, and shifted up to 11° during unilateral centrifugation. Test-retest reliability of the SVV was good for all test conditions.
Conclusions:
The normative data obtained in this study may be useful in identifying patients with chronic utricular dysfunction. We recommend the use of difference angles (on-axis SVV - off-axis SVV) to remove baseline bias and decrease the variability of the SVV angles for the off-axis conditions.
