Auditory P300 and mismatch negativity (MMN) in patients with peripheral vestibular hypofunction

Abstract

Introduction: There is increasing evidence that the loss of vestibular sensory information may change, possibly permanently, the way that cognitive processing areas of the brain integrate spatial and non-spatial information.Objective: We designed this research to assess attention by auditory P300 and memory by MMN in patients with peripheral vestibular hypofunction.Materials and method: The field included 40 subjects divided into two groups, a study group (SG) and a control group (CG). SG: consisted of 20 adult patients with unilateral uncompensated peripheral vestibular hypofunction. CG: consists of 20 normal individuals with normal vestibular function. All matters were submitted to basic audiological evaluation, VNG, P300 and MMN.The results: Our results presented that in patients with unilateral caloric hypofunction, auditory P300 and MMN showed prolonged latency and smaller amplitude than normal. These parameters were involved not simply in the ear ipsilateral to the affected side, but also the contralateral one.Conclusions: The results of our research confirm the view of the presence of cognitive affection in patient with peripheral vestibular lesion. This cognitive affection appeared in the form of attention and memory deficit.