We recorded three-dimensional eye and head movements during circular, horiz
ontal, vertical, and torsional head shaking in six human subjects with norm
al vestibular function. With circular head shaking, the stimulation of the
canals by the termination of the head movement is similar to that following
a step in velocity about the naso-occipital axis. A large torsional nystag
mus with slow phase eye velocity of about 20 degrees/s was observed upon ce
ssation of circular head shaking. The three-dimensional eye movements expec
ted from stimulation of the semicircular canals by the head-shaking maneuve
rs were calculated. The predicted activation of the canals was determined b
y projecting the head velocity (in head coordinates) into the canal planes
and then processing the signal with the transfer function of the canals. Th
e torsional eye velocity components predicted by the stimulation of the can
als matched the recorded ones. We observed small horizontal eye velocities
that could not be predicted by the stimulation of the canals alone. No eye
movements were observed after the end of head shaking about a fixed horizon
tal or vertical axis. The eye Velocities following the termination of head
oscillations in the roll plane were small. The analysis methods developed f
or this study may be useful in the investigation of eye movements elicited
by other types of three-dimensional head movements.