Stability in velocity of otolith-ocular reflex with different stimulus frequencies during step-mode linear acceleration.

Velocity changes in the otolith-ocular reflex (OOR) during a step mode of lateral linear acceleration were examined by electrooculography (EOG) in 4 normal subjects. They were oscillated in darkness at a constant stimulus frequency of 0.175 Hz with 4 different G-levels between 0.2-0.4 G and at a constant G-level of 0.3 G with 4 different stimulus frequencies between 0.115-0.215 Hz. The OOR velocity was increased linearly by elevation of the G-level, though the increase varied considerably among subjects. On the other hand, changes in the stimulus frequency had minimal effect on the OOR velocity. The results indicate that the OOR response property is frequency-independent at a low stimulus-frequency range, even when the head was oscillated rectangularly instead of sinusoidally.