Vestibular compensation in cerebellar stroke patients

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is little evidence about the site where compensatory vestibular mechanisms in patients with cerebellar strokes take place.

METHODS: To determine whether the location of a cerebellar lesion might be a crucial variable in vestibular compensation a sample of 22 patients with cerebellar stroke were tested for graviceptive function in the acute and chronic stage.

RESULTS: Our statistical anatomical lesion analysis indicated that mainly lesions of the cerebellar hemispheres (lobule V, VI, VIIa) hinder vestibular compensation and might lead to an overcompensation.

CONCLUSIONS: Overcompensation-induced dysfunction can be explained by the absence of cerebellar inhibitory signals.