Vestibulo-ocular reflex suppression following hemispheric stroke

This study examined vestibular function following hemispheric ischemic strokes, by testing the suppression of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). Fifteen patients with cortical or subcortical infarcts several months after a unilateral hemispheric stroke were compared with control subjects. The results indicated impairment of VOR suppression in patients with cortical infarcts. It is suggested that cortical infarcts may induce a mild and symmetrical impairment of vestibular activity which may be responsible for mild and transient imbalance in patients who undergo stroke.