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Semin Neurol 2020; 40(01): 018-032
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-3402068
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potential Testing in Vestibular Localization and Diagnosis

Rachael L. Taylor
1   Department of Physiology, Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand
,
Miriam S. Welgampola
2   Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
3   Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
,
Benjamin Nham
2   Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
3   Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
,
Sally M. Rosengren 
2   Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
3   Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
› Author Affiliations
Funding R.L.T. was supported by an Aotearoa Fellowship from the Centre for Brain Research, the University of Auckland, New Zealand.S.M.R. was supported by a Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (GNT1104772).
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Publication History

Publication Date:
14 January 2020 (online)

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Abstract

Vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) are short-latency, otolith-dependent reflexes recorded from the neck and eye muscles. They are widely used in neuro-otology clinics as tests of otolith function. Cervical VEMPs are recorded from the neck muscles and reflect predominantly saccular function, while ocular VEMPs are reflexes of the extraocular muscles and reflect utricular function. They have an important role in the diagnosis of superior canal dehiscence syndrome and provide complementary information about otolith function that is useful in the diagnosis of other vestibular disorders. Like other evoked potentials, they can provide important localizing information about lesions that may occur along the VEMP pathway. This review will describe the VEMP abnormalities seen in common disorders of the vestibular system and its pathways.

Keywords

VEMP - otolith - diagnosis - localization