Reduction in posterior cerebral artery blood flow velocity during caloric vestibular stimulation

Transcranial Doppler (TCD) sonography was performed to assess the differential effects of caloric vestibular stimulation on cerebral blood flow (CBF) to the vestibular [middle cerebral artery (MCA)] and the visual [posterior cerebral artery (PCA)] cortices in 15 healthy volunteers with eyes closed. Caloric irrigation caused a sensation of rotation and nystagmus and not only increased velocity in the MCA (2.7 +/- 3.3%) but also, simultaneously, decreased velocity in the PCA (4.2 +/- 6.2%, p < 0.001 vs. MCA). CBF changes indicated by changes in velocity through the MCA and PCA may reflect functional deactivation of the visual cortex together with activation of the vestibular cortex: this beneficial multisensory interaction suppresses distressing oscillopsia.