[The interaction of vestibular inputs with differing orientations of the otoliths in a gravitational field]

In alert pigeons Columba livia effects of static tilts about fore-aft and binaural axes (angles of tilts: 30-40 deg) on neck and ocular nystagmus elicited by monaural galvanic stimulation of the lateral semicircular canals with sinusoidal currents (peak amplitudes: 20-100 microA; period: 35 sec) were investigated. It was shown that the same angles of the tilts elicited different changes of horizontal nystagmus parameters in different animals. In some of them changes of quantitative characteristics of opposite-directed nystagmus differed with signs. Data support the correctness of recently (Stolbkov, 1989) proposed scheme of forming vestibulomotor reactions, according to which signals from heterolateral vestibular nuclei, during nystagmus, which are integrated, contain both canal and otolith components independent of stimulus mode addressed to canals or otoliths (separately or jointly). Results suggest also that caloric test may be a source of incorrect conclusions concerning state of vestibular system during static tilts the responses of functionally asymmetric semicircular canals may be symmetric ones. Moreover data suggest that sensitivity of convergent vestibular neurons to the canal signals is different depending on separated or combined canal and otolith stimulations.