A new multiaxis rotating chair for oculomotor and vestibular function testing in humans

Abstract Conventional vestibular examination tests the function of the pair of horizontal semicircular canals and ignores the two pairs of vertical semicircular canals and otoliths. For complete vestibular testing, a four-axis gimbal system was constructed with two motor-driven axes and two axes which are manually adjustable. This apparatus allows stimulation of all semicircular canals and also-by rotation with respect to the gravity vector-of the otoliths. Positioning the subject in a light-proof sphere prevents visual orientation in space. Projected visual stimuli (light spot and full-field random dot pattern) complete the possibilities for oculomotor testing. Largely avoiding the use of metal offers the possibility of three-dimensional eye movement recording with the search coil method.