Second-Order Vestibular Adaptation and Cupular Dynamics

Abstract

The magnitude of initial response and slope of continued response of 45 neurons in the vestibular nuclei of cats to constant and interrupted accelerations were investigated. Eighty-eight percent exhibited adaptation, the magnitude of which was proportional to the stimulus. Comparison of slope and intercept of the response to continuous acceleration before and after a superimposed inhibitory velocity change suggests that the adaptation phenomenon is unrelated to cupular position.