Gravity perception in cerebellar patients

Prog Brain Res. 2008:171:369-72. doi: 10.1016/S0079-6123(08)00654-7.

Abstract

Patients with midline cerebellar atrophy typically suffer from impaired postural balance. We asked whether this deficit is, in part, caused by a deficient perception of body position relative to gravity, and therefore measured the subjective visual vertical (SVV) in patients with degeneration predominantly of the midline cerebellar structures (n=11) and age-matched healthy human subjects (n=9). On a motorized turntable, subjects were placed in different roll positions [0, 75 degrees right ear down (RED), 75 degrees left ear down (LED)] and had to align a luminous arrow with the perceived earth-vertical. Both SVV deviations and intra-individual SD of SVV adjustments were not significantly different between patients and age-matched controls. Our findings suggest that the perception of verticality in patients with cerebellar ataxia may only deteriorate in a more advanced stage of the disease. To which degree the deterioration of perceived vertical is caused by a collateral vestibular impairment, awaits further clarification.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cerebellar Diseases / pathology
  • Cerebellar Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Cerebellum / pathology*
  • Female
  • Gravitation
  • Gravity Sensing / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postural Balance*
  • Vestibule, Labyrinth / physiology