Functional brain imaging: a window into the visuo-vestibular systems.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Advances have been made in identifying how areas involved in processing vestibular, ocular motor, and visual information are represented in the human cortex as well as the cortical interaction between these systems in healthy subjects.

RECENT FINDINGS: While we know how some vestibular and ocular motor disorders modify visuo-vestibular interaction by changing the 'normal' cortical activation-deactivation patterns, it is still early days in functional magnetic resonance imaging studies of patients with specific disorders. Findings from current brain imaging studies of several vestibular, ocular motor, and cerebellar disorders are presented.

SUMMARY: The promise of more insights into the complex neuronal networks of the human cortex is great.