Cognitive-vestibular interactions: a review of patient difficulties and possible mechanisms.

Full Abstract

Cognitive deficits such as poor concentration and short-term memory loss are known by clinicians to occur frequently among patients with vestibular abnormalities. Although direct scientific study of such deficits has been limited, several types of investigations do lend weight to the existence of vestibular-cognitive effects. In this article we review a wide range of studies indicating a vestibular influence on the ability to perform certain cognitive functions. In addition to tests of vestibular patient abilities, these studies include dual-task studies of cognitive and balance functions, studies of vestibular contribution to spatial perception and memory, and works demonstrating a vestibular influence on oculomotor and motor coordination abilities that are involved in the performance of everyday cognitive tasks. A growing literature on the physiology of the vestibular system has demonstrated the existence of projections from the vestibular nuclei to the cerebral cortex. The goals of this review are to both raise awareness of the cognitive effects of vestibular disease and to focus scientific attention on aspects of cognitive-vestibular interactions indicated by a wide range of results in the literature.

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Author information

Author/s: Hanes, Douglas A (DA); McCollum, Gin (G);

Affiliation: Neuro-otology Department, Legacy Research Center, Portland, OR 97232, USA. douglas.hanes(-atsign-)gmail.com

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review

Journal: Journal of vestibular research : equilibrium & orientation (J Vestib Res), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-; vol 16 (issue 3) : pp 75-91

Dates: Created 2007/02/21; Completed 2007/04/26; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 17312336, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Cognition
Cognition Disorders - complications
Humans
Orientation

Orientation
Space Perception
Vestibular Diseases - complications
Vestibule, Labyrinth - physiology

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