The hanger reflex is an interesting phenomenon in which a wire hanger placed on the
head induces head rotation. The authors focused on the relationship between the hanger
reflex and the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) and reported interesting findings showing
that the gain of the VOR was altered in the video head impulse test in the lateral
semicircular canal [
[1]
]. A recent experimental study showed that the hanger reflex can be elicited even
when pure skin shear deformation alone was applied [
- Takahashi K.
- Johkura K.
Vestibulo-ocular reflex gain changes in the hanger reflex.
J. Neurol. Sci. 2022; 438120277https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2022.120277
[2]
]. Studies have also shown that the hanger reflex can be elicited at sites other than
the head [
- Miyakami M.
- Takahashi A.
- Kajimoto H.
Head rotation and illusory force sensation by lateral skin stretch on the face.
Front. Virtual Real. 2022; 3https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2022.930848
3
,
4
,
5
]. Since this non-head hanger reflex cannot be explained by the VOR, changes in the
VOR—at least at sites other than the head—are not likely to be the primary cause.
Regarding the head, we considered the possibility that the change in the VOR was caused
by the hanger reflex. Devices inducing the hanger reflex have been used for the treatment
of symptoms not only in cervical dystonia but also in areas other than the head, and
their potential application in the treatment of neurological disorders is immeasurable
[
- Sanada H.
- Kobayashi M.
- Kon Y.
- Kajimoto H.
Investigation of effective parts for rotation and translation of the legs using hanger
reflex.
in: Proceedings of the Augmented Humans International Conference. 2020: 1-6https://doi.org/10.1145/3384657.3384786
[3]
]. We sincerely hope the authors will continue their research.Keywords
Abbreviations:
VOR (vestibulo-ocular reflex)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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References
- Vestibulo-ocular reflex gain changes in the hanger reflex.J. Neurol. Sci. 2022; 438120277https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2022.120277
- Head rotation and illusory force sensation by lateral skin stretch on the face.Front. Virtual Real. 2022; 3https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2022.930848
- The hanger reflex: an inexpensive and non-invasive therapeutic modality for dystonia and neurological disorders.Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo). 2020; 60: 525-530https://doi.org/10.2176/nmc.ra.2020-0156
- Application of hanger reflex to wrist and waist.IEEE Virtual Real (VR). 2014; : 181-182https://doi.org/10.1109/VR.2014.6802111
- Investigation of effective parts for rotation and translation of the legs using hanger reflex.in: Proceedings of the Augmented Humans International Conference. 2020: 1-6https://doi.org/10.1145/3384657.3384786
Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 12, 2022
Accepted:
September 6,
2022
Received in revised form:
August 19,
2022
Received:
August 15,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
