Binocular 3-D otolith-ocular reflexes: responses of chinchillas to natural and prosthetic stimulation after ototoxic injury and vestibular implantation

Abstract

Previous studies to expand the scope of prosthetic stimulation of the otolith end organs showed that selective stimulation of the utricle and saccule is possible. This article further defines those possibilities by characterizing a diseased animal model and subsequently studying its responses to electrical stimulation alone and in combination with mechanical motion. We show that we can partially restore responses to tilt and translation in animals with unilateral gentamicin ototoxic injury and contralateral surgical disruption.