AUTHOR=Tarnutzer Alexander A., Palla Antonella , Marti Sarah , Schuknecht Bernhard , Straumann Dominik 

TITLE=Hypertrophy of the Inferior Olivary Nucleus Impacts Perception of Gravity

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 3 - 2012

YEAR=2012

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2012.00079

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2012.00079

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Interruption of the Guillain-Mollaret triangle interconnecting the red nucleus, the inferior olivary nucleus and the contralateral dentate nucleus is predicted to interfere with the dentate nucleus’ role in estimating direction of gravity. In a patient with pendular nystagmus due to hypertrophic inferior olivary nucleus degeneration secondary to ponto-mesencephalic hemorrhage, perceived vertical shifted from clockwise to counter-clockwise deviations within 4 months. We hypothesize that synchronized oscillations of inferior olivary nucleus neurons induce a loss of inhibitory control, leading to hyperactivity of the contralateral dentate nucleus and, as a result, to perceived vertical roll-tilt to the side of the overactive dentate nucleus.