The Dolls' Eyes Manoeuvre in Head Tilt in Roll in Normal Subjects

The dolls' eyes manoeuvre in head tilt in roll (DM), recognised as one of the otolith function tests from Barany's era in 1906 and treated as a classic test in the roll plane which yields ocular counter-rolling (OCR), was investigated in normal subjects. The DM is a simple, safe, and sound test but has not yet become quantitative. Recently, we devised a new three-dimensional eye movement image analysis technique using a commercialised infrared CCD camera, a personal computer, and public domain software. Image analysis was performed automatically using the public domain software NIH Image.As the result of the DM, OCRs in particular torsional components of eye movements, of which analysis was performed by NIH Image, were performed by seven healthy normal subjects sampled among fifty normal subjects.Six subjects were able to perform smooth OCRs under our critical instruction, except one subject wearing soft contact lens. They all reported no perception disorder and experienced had no sickness during the DM.In a future study, we would like to apply the DM to patients with Meniere's disease (MD). The histopathological feature of MD is defined as endolymphatic hydrops (EH) and EH initially involves the whole inner ear system. If possible, to detect EH in the inner ear organs, we would like to investigate whether or not there is any abnormality of OCRs in MD patients. The DM can be useful to detect such abnormalities, non-invasively.