Vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials in central vestibular disorders

Vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) are short latency manifestations of vestibulo-ocular and vestibulocollic reflexes that originate from the utricle and saccule. Although cervical and ocular VEMPs have mostly been applied to peripheral vestibular disorders, the characteristics and the diagnostic values of VEMPs have been expanded to assess the function of the central otolithic pathways. In the central nervous system, the cervical VEMPs (cVEMPs) are mediated by the vestibular nuclei and uncrossed medial vestibulospinal tract descending in the lower brainstem and spinal cord. In contrast, the ocular VEMPs (oVEMPs) reflect the function of the vestibular nuclei and the crossed vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) pathways, mostly contained in the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF). Therefore, lesions involving the vestibular nuclei can present abnormalities of both cVEMPs and oVEMPs. The medullary lesions involving the descending MLF or the spinal accessory nucleus impair cVEMPs. In contrast, the lesions involving the MLF, the crossed ventral tegmental tract, oculomotor nuclei and the interstitial nucleus of Cajal can impair oVEMPs. Patients with unilateral cerebellar infarctions may show abnormal VEMPs especially when they have the ocular tilt reaction. Delayed responses of VEMPs are characteristic of multiple sclerosis (MS). Reduced VEMP responses can be observed in patients with vestibular migraine. VEMPs are useful in evaluating central as well as peripheral otolithic function that are not readily defined by conventional vestibular function tests, and can aid in detecting and localizing central lesions, especially silent brainstem lesions such as tiny infarctions or MS plaques.