K. Teramoto et al., USE OF THE VISUAL SUPPRESSION TEST USING POST-ROTATORY NYSTAGMUS TO DETERMINE SKILL IN BALLET DANCERS, European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology, 251(4), 1994, pp. 218-223
Twelve ballet dancers with various levels of dancing experience and sk
ill were examined with the visual suppression test using post-rotatory
nystagmus (PRVST) and caloric stimulation (CVST). The PRVST results s
howed a suppression rate that was higher than in untrained subjects. T
he CVST results showed a suppression rate similar to that in untrained
subjects. A correlation between the PRVST and CVST suppression rates
and the length of dancing experience showed that the suppression rate
increased as the level of experience and skill rose. These results ind
icate that the PRVST and CVST can aid in the clinical and quantitative
assessment of the function of the central nervous system in visual-ve
stibular interactions in ballet dancers. Additionally, testing may hav
e determined function of vestibulo-cerebellar pathways through habitua
tion of visual-vestibular interactions. Findings indicate that it may
be possible to use suppression rates of PRVST and CVST to determine th
e approximate level of a dancer's experience and skill.