Hypoglossal responses to macular stimulation in the rabbit

This paper describes preliminary work on the role of the vestibular system in the hypoglossal neurons modulation. Natural stimulation of the otolith organ showed that hypoglossal motoneurons are responsive to gravity stimulation. The spontaneous firing rate of single cells, antidromically identified, was significantly modified during ipsi- or contralateral static tilting of the whole animal. Several response patterns were observed. These results infer that vestibular macular receptors may modulate hypoglossal nucleus activity in response to static head displacement.