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Mach-Breuer theory

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A theory to explain the reactions of the vestibular organ: at the beginning and end of a rotation of the head there occurs, in the semi-circular canals of the ear, an endolymph shift that moves the hairs of cristae ampullares and elicits the vestibular reactions. The vestibular organ is thus responsible for the perception of the body's own movement.

Ernst Mach, in Prague, experimented on himself, while Josef Breuer's experiments were done on deaf persons.

See also Bárány’s theory of endolymph flow, under Robert Bárány, Austrian-Hungarian/Swedish physician and otologist, 1876-1936.

Bibliography

  • J. Breuer:
    Ueber die Function der Bogengänge des Ohrlabyrinths und über den statischen Sinn.
    Medizinische Jahrbücher, Wien, 2nd series, 1875, 4: 72-124.
    This work was submitted to the K. und k. Akademie on November 1873.
  • E. Mach:
    Grundlinien der Lehre von den Bewegungsempfindungen.
    Verlag von Wilhelm Engelmann, Leipzig, 1875.

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