Task-dependent rate of recovery from hemilabyrinthectomy: an analysis of swimming and locomotor performances.

Guinea pigs were hemilabyrinthectomized or hemicerebellectomized and repeatedly tested on a swimming task and in the open field. Initially, hemilabyrinthectomized animals showed impaired swimming behavior which improved over time: within 21-25 days after the vestibular damage, the animals were able to swim around the tank with coordinated motor patterns. Only a slight tendency to turn towards the lesion side continued to be displayed. Hemicerebellectomized guinea pigs were significantly less impaired in their swimming ability since the very first test session. Both groups of animals showed similar recovery time courses in their open field activity. The data demonstrate a task-dependence in the rate of recovery following a unilateral labyrinthectomy and a substantial contribution by the labyrinth to swimming function.