[Heat diffusion of the temporal bone and caloric nystagmus].

The specific reaction pattern and associated response times in 84 patients were examined and analysed. A simplified computer simulation model was created to study the heat diffusion process during stimulation using this basic information. On the basis of the simulated diffusion times we attempted to identify those anatomical structures which could participate in the origin of caloric nystagmus, and developed a new hypothesis to explain its origin.