Alcohol binge-drinking damage on the vestibulo-oculomotor reflex

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Binge drinking is a prevalent behavior with known adverse effects on multiple organ systems.
• The vestibulo-oculomotor reflex (VOR) is crucial for maintaining gaze stability during head movements.
• Ethanol's impact on vestibular function and its assessment require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effects of binge-like alcohol consumption on the vestibulo-oculomotor reflex (VOR).
• To compare the sensitivity of the video Head Impulse Test (vHIT) and the functional Head Impulse Test (fHIT) in assessing alcohol-induced VOR changes.

Main Methods:

• Eleven healthy men with moderate drinking habits participated.
• Baseline and post-binge drinking VOR function were assessed using vHIT and fHIT.
• Breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) was monitored.

Main Results:

• Alcohol intake significantly reduced VOR gain as measured by vHIT.
• fHIT performance deteriorated significantly in 9 out of 11 participants post-alcohol consumption.
• Substandard fHIT outcomes were observed even at moderate blood alcohol levels.

Conclusions:

• Binge drinking severely impacts VOR function.
• fHIT demonstrates higher sensitivity than vHIT in detecting complex vestibular dysfunction caused by ethanol.
• fHIT may serve as a valuable complementary tool to vHIT for assessing alcohol-related vestibular impairments.