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Disruption of self-motion perception without vestibular reflex alteration in ménière's disease
Mario Faralli1, Michele Ori1, Giampietro Ricci1
1Department of Surgery and Biomedical Sciences, Section of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Background:
Self-motion misperception has been observed in vestibular patients during asymmetric body oscillations. This misperception is correlated with the patient's vestibular discomfort.
Objective:
To investigate whether or not self-motion misperception persists in post-ictal patients with Ménière's disease (MD).
Methods:
Twenty-eight MD patients were investigated while in the post-ictal interval. Self-motion perception was studied by examining the displacement of a memorized visual target after sequences of opposite directed fast-slow asymmetric whole body rotations in the dark. The difference in target representation was analyzed and correlated with the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) score. The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) and clinical tests for ocular reflex were also evaluated.
Results:
All MD patients showed a noticeable difference in target representation after asymmetric rotation depending on the direction of the fast/slow rotations. This side difference suggests disruption of motion perception. The DHI score was correlated with the amount of motion misperception. In contrast, VOR and clinical trials were altered in only half of these patients.
Conclusions:
Asymmetric rotation reveals disruption of self-motion perception in MD patients during the post-ictal interval, even in the absence of ocular reflex impairment. Motion misperception may cause persistent vestibular discomfort in these patients.
Insights
Ménière
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Vestibular System Research
- Human Perception Studies
Background:
- Vestibular disorders, such as Ménière's disease (MD), can cause misperception of self-motion during body movements.
- This sensory conflict is often linked to increased vestibular discomfort in patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if self-motion misperception persists in Ménière's disease patients during the post-ictal phase.
- To explore the relationship between motion misperception and subjective disability in MD patients.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-eight post-ictal Ménière's disease patients underwent asymmetric whole-body rotations.
- Self-motion perception was assessed by visual target displacement after rotations.
- Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) scores, vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), and ocular reflex tests were evaluated.
Main Results:
- All patients exhibited altered motion perception following asymmetric rotations, indicating disrupted sensory processing.
- The degree of motion misperception correlated significantly with DHI scores, highlighting functional impact.
- Vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) and clinical ocular reflex tests showed abnormalities in only about half of the patients.
Conclusions:
- Self-motion perception is disrupted in Ménière's disease patients during the post-ictal period, independent of ocular reflex function.
- This persistent disruption in motion perception may contribute to ongoing vestibular discomfort and disability in MD patients.
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