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Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Eye-Tracking Control to Assess Cognitive Functions in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Published on: October 13, 2016
Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials and their clinical utility in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Xiaoxuan Liu1, Shuo Zhang1, Xiao Huang1
1Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Objective:
To evaluate the diagnostic value of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) in the assessment of brainstem function integrity in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Methods:
This was a prospective case-control study including 30 definite or probable ALS patients divided into two groups (with or without brainstem involvement) and 30 healthy controls. Cervical (c-), masseter (m-) and ocular VEMP (o-VEMP) measurements were obtained for all the participants.
Results:
The c-VEMP mean p13 and n23 were significantly prolonged in the ALS patients. The interside peak differences in p13 and n23 of c-VEMP and in n10 and p15 of o-VEMP were significantly prolonged. The rates of alteration in c-VEMP, m-VEMP and o-VEMP in the ALS patients were 67%, 40%, and 45%, respectively. The ALS patients with brainstem involvement had a significantly higher percentage of VEMP abnormalities than did those without brainstem involvement (p = 0.027).
Conclusions:
c-VEMP is a sensitive tool to detect lower levels of brainstem involvement. Impairments in o-VEMP and m-VEMP indicate involvement of the upper brainstem. The use of combined VEMPs may provide useful insights into the pathophysiological mechanism of ALS.
Significance:
VEMPs may be useful in the evaluation of brainstem dysfunction in ALS patients.
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