Ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (OVEMPs) produced by impulsive transmastoid accelerations

ObjectiveRecent work has demonstrated the existence of ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (OVEMPs), which likely reflect projections underlying the translational vestibular ocular reflex (TVOR). We examined extraocular muscle activity associated with impulsive acceleration of the head in the transmastoid plane.MethodsAccelerometry was measured in 4 subjects in response to acceleration impulses produced by a gamma function delivered with a Minishaker (4810, Bruel & Kjaer). This stimulus produced peak head accelerations of 0.13–0.14 g occurring at between 3.1 and 4.0 ms at the mastoids for both right and left head movement. OVEMPs were recorded in 10 normal subjects with 5 directions of gaze, using electrode pairs placed lateral to, above and below the eyes.ResultsOVEMPs occurred at short latency, with initial peaks between 10.3 ms (p10) and 15.3 ms (n15). For a given recording site and gaze direction, the responses were determined solely by the direction of imposed acceleration.ConclusionsWe propose that, given the transtemporal nature of the stimuli, utricular afferents are likely to be powerfully activated. The OVEMPs evoked may be generated by the lateral recti and oblique muscles.SignificanceSudden lateral accelerations of the head evoke the translational VOR and ocular counter rolling reflex and the pattern of muscle activations indicated by the OVEMPs appear to be a manifestation of these reflexes.