Effects of Prolonged Roll-tilt in Healthy Human Subjects

Erticality Perception - Effects of Prolonged Roll-tilt in Healthy Human Subjects

The long-term goal of this research is to advance the investigators knowledge of how the brain combines the information of multiple sensory systems coding for spatial oriention and how adaptation to vestibular imbalance influences spatial orientation. In healthy human subjects verticality perception is accurate while upright. After prolonged roll-tilt, humans show a systematic bias in perceived direction towards the previous roll-tilted position (so-called "post-tilt bias"). This effect could either be related to adaptation to the roll-tilted position (shifting the "null" position) or it could be related to changes in torsional eye position due to prolonged static roll-tilt (ocular counter-roll). While in the first case a post-tilt bias is predicted independently of the experimental paradigm used, the second hypothesis predicts a post-tilt bias only if retinal cues are integrated. In order to evaluate these hypotheses, the investigators will assess perceived vertical using both vision-dependent and vision-independent paradigms.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Adaptation Reaction
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: presentation of visual and vestibular stimuli

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Dominik Straumann, MD; Phone Number: +41442551111; Email: dominik.straumann@usz.ch
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Alexander A Tarnutzer, MD; Phone Number: +41442551111; Email: alexander.tarnutzer@usz.ch

Study Locations

• Switzerland
  • ZH
    • Zurich, ZH, Switzerland, 8091
      • Recruiting
      • University Hospital Zurich, Dept. of Neurology
      • Contact: Alexander Tarnutzer, MD; Phone Number: +41442551111; Email: alexander.tarnutzer@usz.ch
      • Sub-Investigator: Alexander A Tarnutzer, MD
      • Sub-Investigator: Andrea Wedtgrube

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• ages 18-65 years
• informed consent
• absence of exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

• peripheral-vestibular deficit
• disturbed consciousness
• history of sensory deficits
• visual field deficits
• other neurological or systemic disorder which can cause dementia or cognitive dysfunction
• intake of antidepressants, sedatives, or neuroleptics
• pregnancy, unless excluded by a negative pregnancy test
• known neck pain or status post neck trauma

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: intervention arm; In each participant the investigators will assess verticality perception in whole-body upright position by use of the SVV, the SPV and the SHV after static roll-tilt at ±90deg over 5min. Measurements will be obtained on a motor-driven turntable and two different roll-tilt positions will be applied (±90°). A visual line (SVV), a rod (SHV) or the turntable itself will be adjusted to indicate perceived direction of vertical. A total of three measuring sessions, each lasting about 60 minutes are scheduled.

Behavioral: presentation of visual and vestibular stimuli; In each participant the investigators will assess verticality perception in whole-body upright position by use of the SVV, the SPV and the SHV after static roll-tilt at ±90deg over 5min. Measurements will be obtained on a motor-driven turntable and two different roll-tilt positions will be applied (±90°). A visual line (SVV), a rod (SHV) or the turntable itself will be adjusted to indicate perceived direction of vertical. A total of three measuring sessions, each lasting about 60 minutes are scheduled.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
adjustment errors of the subjective visual/haptic/postural vertical in upright position after prolonged whole-body roll-tilt positions.	the accuracy and precision of visual vertical adjustments after prolonged roll tilt are quantified.	10 minutes (i.e. short-term adaptation)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
changes in adjustment errors of the subjective visual vertical when providing an additional optokinetic stimulus	This is the same as in outcome 1, but an additional visual (optokinetic) stimulus is added	10 minutes (i.e. short-term adaptation)
changes in adjustment errors of the subjective haptic vertical when providing an additional optokinetic stimulus	This is the same as in outcome 1, but an additional visual (optokinetic) stimulus is added	10 minutes (i.e. short-term adaptation)
changes in adjustment errors of the subjective postural vertical when providing an additional optokinetic stimulus	This is the same as in outcome 1, but an additional visual (optokinetic) stimulus is added	10 minutes (i.e. short-term adaptation)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Zurich

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): May 1, 2020
• Study Completion (Anticipated): May 31, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 16, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 29, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): December 2, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 7, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 6, 2020
• Last Verified: December 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: post_tilt_study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO