Static and Kinetic Labyrinthine Reflex: Functional Development of Labyrinthine Function with Rotatory Training

Abstract

Two blindfolded leghorns were rotated 100 times in 200 seconds to both directions every day for two weeks. Their labyrinthine function was evaluted by Bárány's rotation test before and after the repeated rotations. It was observed that after the rotations the head during rotation turned in the direction of rotation after the normal deviation. This phenomenon was never found in animals before repeated rotations. The labyrinthine function which caused it has been named the “kinetic labyrinthine reflex”. In contrast with this naming, the normal deviation during rotation, a hitherto well known labyrinthine reflex, has been called the “static labyrinthine reflex”. After repeated rotations the animal was much less ataxic during and after the test rotation: the animal showed a functional progress in equilibrating function through the repeated rotations, which were therefore named “training” Postrotatory head-nystagmus was also much less marked in the trained animals.