The mechanism of inhibition of caloric nystagmus by eye closure.

24 normal adults and 324 clinical cases were examined, for the purpose of shedding light on the mechanism of inhibition of caloric nystagmus by eye closure. When the eyes were closed, an eye was suddenly adducted 13 +/- 5 degrees and elevated 55 +/- 11 degrees. These adductive and upward eye movements were normal responses caused by eye closure.