The vestibular system: Contributions of Lorente de Nó

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Espinosa-Sanchez, Juan Manuel^{a; b; c; d; *} | Kaski, Diego^e | Perez-Fernandez, Nicolas^f | Batuecas-Caletrio, Angel^g

Affiliations: [a] Division of Otoneurology, Department of Otolaryngology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain | [b] Otology & Neurotology Group CTS495, Department of Genomic Medicine, GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research: Pfizer, University of Granada, Andalusian Regional Government, PTS, Granada, Spain | [c] Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of Granada, Granada, Spain | [d] Sensorineural Pathology Programme, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Raras, CIBERER, Madrid, Spain | [e] Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK | [f] Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Madrid, Spain | [g] Otoneurology Unit, ENT Department, University Hospital of Salamanca, IBSAL, Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Juan Manuel Espinosa-Sanchez, Otology & Neurotology Group CTS495, Department of Genomic Medicine, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research (GENYO), Pfizer-University of Granada-Andalusian Regional Government. Avda. de la Ilustración 114, Granada 18016 Spain. E-mail: juanmanuel.espinosa@genyo.es.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Rafael Lorente de Nó was a neuroscientist that worked alongside two of the giants of Medicine, the Nobel Prize winners Cajal and Bárány. OBJECTIVE:To describe the contributions of Lorente de Nó to vestibular neuroscience. METHODS:Detailed review of the publications of Lorente de Nó and analysis of the archives from Junta para Ampliación de Estudios e Investigaciones Científicas at Residencia de Estudiantes (Madrid, Spain), Casa de Salud Valdecilla at Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla (Santander, Spain), Becker Medical Library at Washington University (St. Louis, MO, USA), Rockefeller Archive Center (Sleepy Hollow, New York, NY, USA), Archivo Fernando de Castro (Madrid, Spain), Biblioteca Nacional de España (Madrid, Spain) and Legado Cajal at Instituto Cajal (Madrid, Spain). Most of this material is unpublished and includes over a hundred letters to or from Lorente. RESULTS:Lorente de Nó made a substantial contribution to our understanding of the vestibular system. Amongst these, he meticulously detailed the course of the vestibular nerve and its central projections. He described the vestibulo-ocular reflex as the consequence of an integration of the various nuclei and connections across the vestibular system, rather than a simple three-neuron arc. He also highlighted the role of the reticular formation in the generation of the fast phase of the nystagmus. CONCLUSIONS:Lorente de Nó was a pioneer of modern neuro-otology, having made outstanding contributions to vestibular neuroscience, forging novel discoveries that still burn true today.

Keywords: Lorente de Nó, vestibular, vestibulo-ocular reflex, history of neuro-otology, physiology, anatomy

DOI: 10.3233/VES-220034

Journal: Journal of Vestibular Research, vol. 33, no. 5, pp. 287-297, 2023