Abstract
When the position of the head is brought to an off-vertical, lateral or head-hanging position a change in graviceptive (otholithic?) input occurs. This change is the precipitating factor for central positional vertigo. The most probable explanation for this response is a vestibular tone imbalance with directional positional nystagmus and rotational/linear vertigo caused by disinhibition of the vestibular reflexes on perception, eye, head, and body position (Brandt 1990). Thus, it is not (as one might speculate) the dislocation of the brain and intracerebral structures that depend on head position which causes the manifestations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Allen G, Fernandez C (1960) Experimental observations in postural nystagmus: extensive lesions in posterior vermis of the cerebellum. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 51:2–14
Brandt Th (1990) Positional and positioning vertigo and nystagmus. J Neurol Sci 95:3–28
Brandt Th, Daroff RB (1980) The multisensory physiological and pathological vertigo syndromes. Ann Neurol 7:195–203
Brandt Th, Krafczyk S, Malsbenden I (1981) Postural imbalance with head extension: Improvement by training as a model for ataxia therapy. Ann NY Acad Sci 374:636–649
Denny-Brown D (1960) Recurrent cerebrovascular episodes. Arch Neurol 2:194–209
Fernandez C, Alzate R, Lindsay JR (1960) Experimental observation on postural nystagmus. II Lesions of the nodulus. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 69:94–114
Fernandez C, Fredrickson JM (1964) Experimental cerebellar lesions and their effect on vestibular function. Acta Otolaryngol 192:52–62
Gregorius FK, Grandall PH, Baloh RW (1976) Positional vertigo with cerebellar astrocytoma. Surg Neurol 6:283–286
Harrison MS, Ozsahinoglu C (1975) Positional vertigo. Arch Otolarnygol 101:675
Kattah JC, Kolsky MP, Luessenhof AJ (1984) Positional vertigo and the cerebellar vermis. Neurology 34:527–529
Rosenhall U, Hanner P, Kaijser B (1988) Borrelia infection and vertigo. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 106:111–116
Sakata E, Ohtsu K, Shimura H, Sakai S (1987) Positional nystagmus of benign paroxysmal type (BPPV) due to cerebellar vermis lesions. Pseudo-BPPV. Auris-Nasus-Larynx (Tokyo) 14:17–21
Sheehan S, Bauer RB, Mever JS (1960) Vertebral artery compression in cervical spondylosis. Neurology 10:968–986
Toole JF, Tucker SH (1960) Influence of head position upon cerebral circulation. Arch Neurol 2:616–623
Watson P, Barber HO, Peck J, Terbrugge K (1981) Positional vertigo and nystagmus of central origin. Can J Neurol Sci 8:133–137
Williams D, Wilson TG (1962) The diagnosis of the major and minor syndromes of basilar insufficiency. Brain 85:741–777
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1991 Springer-Verlag London Limited
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Brandt, T. (1991). Central Positional Vertigo. In: Vertigo: Its Multisensory Syndromes. Clinical Medicine and the Nervous System. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3342-1_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3342-1_14
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-3344-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-3342-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive