title: Multimodal signal integration in vestibular neurons of the primate fastigial nucleus.
abstract: The rostral fastigial nucleus contains vestibular neurons, which presumably are involved in spinal mechanisms (neck, gait, posture) and which are not modulated with individual eye movements. Single-unit recordings in the alert behaving monkey during natural stimulus conditions reveal that virtually all neurons demonstrate integration of several sensory inputs. This applies not only for canal-canal and canal-otolith interaction, but also for otolith-otolith interaction. There is also some evidence that most neurons receive not only an utriculus but also a sacculus input. Furthermore, most neurons also respond to large-field optokinetic stimulation, reflecting visual-vestibular interaction. Neurons are also affected by the head on trunk position, which would allow these neurons to operate in a body-centered rather than a head-centered reference frame. These complex, multisensory features could permit fastigial nucleus neurons to rather specifically affect spinal motor functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, 81377 Munich, Germany. ubeuttner@brain.nefo.med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Büttner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Glasauer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Glonti
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kipiani
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kleine
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Siebold
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tchelidze
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002529:Cerebellar Nuclei / Q000502:physiology*; D019416:Head Movements / Q000502:physiology; D008251:Macaca; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D012399:Rotation; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000502:physiology; D014726:Vestibular Nuclei / Q000502:physiology*