Nonlinear characteristics of single neurons in the vestibular nuclei

The characteristics of response of 99 vestibular nuclei neurons were investigated in the cat anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium. All neurons responded to stimulation of the horizontal semicircular canals (HSCC) with prolonged 2, 4, 6, or 8 degrees/second2 angular acceleration. Neural response was recorded utilizing the single-neuron recording technique. The vestibular neurons responded nonlinearly to stimulation of the HSCC. Specifically (1) the time required to reach the maximum response level decreased nonlinearly with an increase in stimulus magnitude (SM); (2) the maximum response level increased nonlinearly with the increase in SM: (3) the neural response to excitatory stimulus was not the mirror image of that to an inhibitory stimulus. Several existing mathematical models were simulated by utilization of the IBM Continuous System Modeling Program, account for the nonlinear response of the vestibular nuclei neurons. The nonlinearities observed in the responses may be due to (1) nonlinear behavior of the end organ, (2) the influence of the CNS including the vestibular efferent system, or (3) the inherent neural properties of the vestibular nuclei.