Rapid head reorientations that activate the vestibular system may present a challenge to physiological homeostasis. Thus, the vestibular system offers a short latency mechanism by which to instigate compensatory autonomic and ventilatory responses. Hence, we sought to test whether unilateral vestibular activation by bithermal (30^oC & 44^oC) external auditory canal irrigations provokes a modification of autonomic and ventilatory regulation, and whether they relate to subjective experiences. 14 healthy subjects (8 male; mean age 32.4 ± 4.2 years) were tested, all of whom had given informed consent to participant in the study, which had received local ethics committee approval. Continuous recording of breath-by-breath respiratory parameters (pneumotachography), heart rate (H_R; standard 3-lead ECG) and systolic blood pressure (Portapres; SBP; mmHg) were performed. The 40s surrounding (20s prior and post) the peak velocity of the evoked slow phase nystagmus (PEAK) to an irrigation was compared to two 5 minute control periods prior (PRE) and post (POST) irrigations using paired students t-tests. Upon completion questionnaires were administered where participants experience of sickness, faintness, and dizziness in response to the irrigations were rated, in addition to state anxiety (Spielberg Short Form). Minute ventilation (V_I: L. BTPS min^-1) significantly (p<0.05) increased during PEAK vs. PRE (7.7 ± 0.5 vs. 7.1 ± 0.3), predominantly furnished by an increase (p<0.05) of respiratory rate (F_R; min^-1) (16.1 ± 0.8 vs. 14.1 ± 0.6). Significant (p<0.05) SBP augmentation (157.6 ± 4.4 vs. 150.6 ± 4.3) was also observed in the absence of significant H_R changes. All parameters returned to PRE values during POST. Few psychometric effects beyond dizziness were noted in response to repeated caloric irrigations . In conclusion, unilateral caloric irrigations activated both autonomic and respiratory control mechanisms. Rapid increments in SBP may serve to counteract a fall in cerebral blood flow during rapid head reorientations. The provocation of tachypnoea is unlikely to be simply due to anxiety/panic as these symptoms were not reported by the subjects. The mechanisms and physiological importance of vestibular evoked autonomic and ventilatory modulation requires further study.