title: Directional preponderance, 1942-1974. A review.
abstract: The subject reviewed is the phenomenon of Directional Preponderance (DP), a term first proposed in 1942 by Fitzgerald & Hallpike for an abnormality in the pattern of the caloric responses found to occur in association with a variety of unilateral lesions, both central and peripheral, of the vestibular system. On the basis of observations carried out upon a series of human subjects, Fitzgerald, Hallpike & Cawthorne (1942) argued that the DP towards the unaffected labyrinth which follows unilateral labyrinthectomy is subserved in part by a unilateral loss of utricular function--a utricular paresis. Support for the utricular paresis hypothesis, as developed in the course of subsequent studies by Hallpike and his co-workers is thought to be provided by a substantial body of evidence, both clinical and experimental, which has since become available. This is reviewed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002150:Caloric Tests; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D009759:Nystagmus, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011817:Rabbits; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology