NEUROCHEMISTRY OF THE CENTRAL VESTIBULAR PATHWAYS

This review focuses on the neurochemistry of the central vestibular pa thways. The main emphasis will be on the analysis of the central vesti bular nuclei neurons, since several papers published in the past 5 yea rs have provided important information on the role that neurotransmitt er-dependent conductances play in the central processing of vestibular inputs. Indeed, increasing evidence suggests that both the non-linear intrinsic membrane properties of the neurons and the nature of the di fferent neurotransmitters and neuromodulators involved in the vestibul ar network contribute to the various operations required for stabilisi ng gaze and posture. It has also been demonstrated that the neurotrans mitter-dependent conductances together with the ionic voltage-dependen t conductances may determine the firing patterns of the medial vestibu lar neurons and interfere with their integrative properties. We hope t hat this review will show that by combining in vitro and in vivo elect rophysiological approaches and the new powerful neuropharmacological t echniques developed from the recent advances of molecular biology, the vestibular system can be used as a good model to elucidate some of th e basic properties of the brain including learning, neural computation , network reconfiguration and post-lesional plasticity.