title: Hypertrophy of the inferior olivary nucleus impacts perception of gravity.
abstract: Interruption of the dentato-olivary projections, interconnecting the dentate nucleus (DN) and the contralateral inferior olivary nucleus (ION), is predicted to interfere with the DN' role in estimating direction of gravity. In a patient with pendular nystagmus due to hypertrophy of the ION secondary to predominantly right-sided ponto-mesencephalic hemorrhage, perceived vertical shifted from clockwise to counter-clockwise deviations within 4 months. We hypothesize that synchronized oscillations of ION neurons induce a loss of inhibitory control, leading to hyperactivity of the contralateral DN and, as a result, to perceived vertical roll-tilt to the side of the over-active DN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alexander A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Tarnutzer
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palla
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marti
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schuknecht
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Straumann