Age-related changes in visual-vestibular interactions in healthy subjects (an fMRI study)

Introduction and Aims: The concept of an inhibitory interaction between the visual and the vestibular systems at the cortical level as the basis for interactions between the different sensory systems is supported by several previous functional imaging studies using magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography [1–5]. The aim of our study was to broaden this concept by addressing the question how the specific pattern of visual-vestibular interactions changes with age. Methods: In a group of 18 healthy right-handed subjects, aged 20 to 80 years, horizontal optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) was visua…