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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 5, 2026

Using Eye-tracking to Assess the Relative Importance of Visual and Vestibular Input to Subcortical Motion Processing in the Roll Plane

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Bilateral vestibular loss and oscillopsia.

J H McGath¹, H O Barber, S Stoyanoff

¹Dizziness Unit, Sunnybrook Medical Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The Journal of Otolaryngology

|August 1, 1989

Summary

Bilateral caloric reduction, identified in 1.6% of patients via electronystagmography (ENG), was most frequently linked to Ménière

Area of Science:

Neurology
Otolaryngology
Vestibular System

Background:

Electronystagmography (ENG) is a diagnostic tool for evaluating vestibular function.
Bilateral caloric reduction or loss is a significant finding in vestibular disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the prevalence and potential causes of bilateral caloric reduction or loss in a large patient cohort.
To explore the relationship between caloric function, oscillopsia, and other vestibular tests.

Main Methods:

Retrospective review of electronystagmographic (ENG) records from 5,499 patients.
Analysis of caloric activity levels and associated clinical data.

Main Results:

Bilateral caloric reduction or loss was observed in only 1.6% of patients.

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Bilateral Ménière's disease and ototoxic drug exposure were the most frequent, though not definitive, diagnoses.

No significant correlation was found between the degree of caloric reduction and oscillopsia or rotation test results.

Conclusions:

While rare, bilateral caloric reduction/loss can occur, with Ménière's disease and ototoxic exposure as potential contributors.
The absence of oscillopsia in some patients with bilateral caloric loss suggests alternative mechanisms for visual stability beyond the vestibulo-ocular reflex.