Journal of Vestibular Research - Volume Pre-press, issue Pre-press

Authors: Nakdimon, Idan | Gordon, Barak | Assa, Amit | Ben-Ari, Oded

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Flight simulators have an essential role in aircrew training. Occasionally, symptoms of motion sickness, defined as simulator sickness, develop during training sessions. The reported incidence of simulator sickness ranged widely in different studies. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to calculate the incidence of and to define a threshold value for simulator sickness among rotary-wing pilots using the validated Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ). METHODS: CH-53 and UH-60 helicopter pilots, who trained in helicopter simulators in the Israeli Air Force, were asked to fulfill SSQ. A score of 20 in the SSQ was defined as …the threshold for simulator sickness. Simulator sickness incidence and average SSQ were calculated. Correlations between age and simulator training hours to SSQ scores were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 207 rotary-wing aircrew participated in the study. Simulator sickness was experienced by 51.7% of trainees. The average SSQ score was 32.7. A significant negative correlation was found between age and SSQ score. CONCLUSIONS: Simulator sickness was experienced by more than half of helicopter pilots. A score of 20 in the SSQ was found to be suitable as the threshold for this condition. Show more

Keywords: Aircrew, flight displays, motion sickness, multisensory integration, simulation and training, SSQ, virtual environments

DOI: 10.3233/VES-230111

Citation: Journal of Vestibular Research, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-6, 2024

Authors: Yokoyama, Takako | Takahashi, Koji | Kudo, Yosuke | Jono, Takashi | Johkura, Ken

Article Type: Brief Report

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Sound stimulation can influence electrophysiological vestibular reflexes. However, the effects of sound stimulation on space perception remain unknown. OBJECTIVE: To know the effects of monaural sound stimulation on subjective visual vertical (SVV). METHODS: We measured SVV with and without monaural sound stimulation (105 dB, 500 Hz short tone burst presented at 4.7 Hz) in 50 healthy volunteers (aged 20–77 [mean = 42.7] years). RESULTS: The mean SVV was deviated 0.139° to the left by right monaural sound stimulation and 0.123° to the right by left monaural sound stimulation. SVV changes due to right and left ear stimulations were …significantly different (p  = 0.019). Sound stimulation resulted in a significant change in SVV on the left side (p  = 0.014) in participants aged 50 or younger (mean = 35.6 years) (n  = 37). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to show the possibility that the monaural sound input deviates the SVV toward the opposite side and is more pronounced for left-ear input. The vestibular-evoked myogenic potential responses may be involved in the mechanism of the contralateral SVV deviation due to sound input. Show more

Keywords: Sense of balance, auditory-vestibular interaction, vestibular-evoked myogenic potential, otolith, hearing

DOI: 10.3233/VES-240044

Citation: Journal of Vestibular Research, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-4, 2024

Authors: Mok, Barbara | Welgampola, Miriam S. | Rosengren, Sally M.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Vestibular migraine (VM) is a common cause of recurrent spontaneous and positional dizziness of varying durations. Short episodes of VM lasting seconds to minutes, triggered by changes in head position can resemble those of benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo (BPPV), while episodes lasting minutes to hours can mimic those of Meniere’s disease (MD). OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare symptoms and vestibular test results in patients with VM, BPPV and MD, where VM was categorized by episode duration. METHODS: We compared vestibular, aural and migraine symptoms, as well as cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials and …3D video head impulse tests, in 108 patients: 24 with BPPV, 33 with VM episodes of short duration (<10 min), 29 with VM of medium duration (≥10 min) and 22 with MD. RESULTS: We found significant overlap in the symptoms of all patient groups, and no significant differences between patients with short and medium VM. Abnormal test results occurred infrequently in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm significant symptom overlap between BPPV or MD and VM, and suggest that VM mimics other conditions when the episode duration matches the differential diagnosis, rather than because patients with different durations of vertigo have different symptoms. Show more

Keywords: Episode duration, aural symptoms, migraine, overlap

DOI: 10.3233/VES-240038

Citation: Journal of Vestibular Research, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-9, 2024