Quadrupeds maintain the dorsal side up body orientation due to the activity of the postural
control system driven by limb mechanoreceptors. Binaural galvanic vestibular stimulation
(GVS) causes a lateral body sway toward the anode. Previously, we have shown that this
new position is actively stabilized, suggesting that GVS changes a set point in the reflex
mechanisms controlling body posture. The aim of the present study was to reveal the
underlying neuronal mechanisms. Experiments were performed on decerebrate rabbits. The …

METHODS Experiments were carried out on 11 adult New Zealand rabbits (weighing 2.5–
3.5 kg). All experiments were conducted with approval of the local ethical committee (Norra
Djurförsöksetiska Nämden) in Stockholm. Surgical procedures. The animal was injected with
propofol (average dose, 10 mg/kg, administered intravenously) for induction of anesthesia,
which was continued on isoflurane (1.5–2.5%), delivered in O2. The trachea was
cannulated. For all subsequent procedures, the animal was positioned in a metal frame, and …