Effect of gender on ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials via various stimulation modes

• Published in: Clinical neurophysiology 2011-01, Vol.122 (1), p.183-187
• Main Authors: Sung, Po-Hsien, Cheng, Po-Wen, Young, Yi-Ho
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Air-conducted sound (ACS); Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Bone-conducted vibration (BCV); Efferent Pathways - physiology; Electrodiagnosis. Electric activity recording; Evoked Potentials - physiology; Eye Movements - physiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS); Gender; Head Movements - physiology; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Motor Neurons - physiology; Muscle Contraction - physiology; Neck Muscles - innervation; Neck Muscles - physiology; Nervous system; Neurologic Examination - methods; Neurology; Ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP); Oculomotor Muscles - innervation; Oculomotor Muscles - physiology; Physical Stimulation - methods; Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular - physiology; Sex Characteristics; Somesthesis and somesthetic pathways (proprioception, exteroception, nociception); interoception; electrolocation. Sensory receptors; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Vestibular Nuclei - physiology; Vestibule, Labyrinth - physiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1388-2457; 1872-8952
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2010.06.004

Abstract Objective This study compared the characteristic parameters of ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMPs) via air-conducted sound (ACS), bone-conducted vibration (BCV), and galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) modes between male and female adults to determine whether gender affects oVEMPs. Methods Twenty healthy volunteers, 10 males (age, 24–33 years) and 10 females (age, 24–33 years), underwent oVEMP tests using ACS, BCV and GVS modes. Results No significant differences existed in the mean nI latency, pI latency and nI–pI interval between the males and females. However, the mean oVEMP amplitude in males was significantly larger than that of females, regardless of whether ACS, BCV or GVS mode was used. In contrast, asymmetry ratio of the amplitude did not show gender difference. Additionally, the mean body mass index (BMI) was 22.3 ± 1.8 kg/m2 for male group and 19.6 ± 1.6 kg/m2 for female group. Significant correlations existed between the BMI and oVEMP amplitude. Conclusions Gender difference exists in oVEMP amplitude, which may be attributed to variance in the muscle bulk between males and females. Significance Ocular VEMPs should be interpreted with the asymmetry ratio rather than raw amplitude itself.