Ocular Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials and Motion Sickness Susceptibility

Abstract

A functional vestibular system is a prerequisite for motion sickness (MS) to occur. The otolithic organs (saccule and utricle) are currently considered to be important in the pathogenesis of MS. Recent investigations have demonstrated that the ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMP) test is an objective evaluation of utricular function. To date, there is no functional guide that can serve as a diagnostic tool for individual susceptibility to MS. Therefore, we investigated the link between oVEMP and MS susceptibility. The oVEMP test was performed on 31 MS susceptible and 23 nonsusceptible individuals. MS susceptibility was determined by self-declaration and by using the MS susceptibility questionnaire (MSSQ) and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS). Bilateral oVEMP responses were obtained in all subjects. HAS and MSSQ scores between the susceptible and nonsusceptible group were 18.27 +/- 5.23 vs. 2.34 +/- 1.21 and 28.12 +/- 6.53 vs. 2.34 +/- 1.45, respectively. Statistically significant differences in MSSQ and HAS scores were found between the MS susceptible and nonsusceptible groups. No differences were found between MS susceptible and nonsusceptible subjects in N10 and P15 wave latencies, N10-P15 interval, or peak-to-peak N10-P15 amplitude. However, there was a trend toward greater asymmetry ratio in the MS susceptible group than in the MS nonsusceptible group (18.55 +/- 10.24% vs. 13.25 +/- 9.47%), although statistical significance was not reached. It appears that no relation exists between oVEMP results and MS susceptibility. Nevertheless, the differences in the asymmetry ratios of oVEMP interpeak amplitude between the two groups revealed a trend toward marginal statistical significance.