Novel cVEMP procedure reveals sexual dimorphism in peak to trough latency
IntroductionSex difference in latency for cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) has been reported in Brown Norway rats. Human investigations of sex difference in VEMP latency have shown inconsistent results, although there are indicators of sexual dimorphism in vestibular function and...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience |
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| author | Max Gattie Max Gattie Elena V. M. Lieven Karolina Kluk |
| author_facet | Max Gattie Max Gattie Elena V. M. Lieven Karolina Kluk |
| author_sort | Max Gattie |
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| description | IntroductionSex difference in latency for cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) has been reported in Brown Norway rats. Human investigations of sex difference in VEMP latency have shown inconsistent results, although there are indicators of sexual dimorphism in vestibular function and a higher reporting rate for vestibular disorder in women than in men.MethodsSex effects in human VEMP were re-evaluated here using a procedure adapting clinical protocols for higher sensitivity. VEMP was compared between 24 women and 24 men using a novel procedure that (1) controlled neck tension with biofeedback and a padded head bar; (2) used body-conducted stimuli to eliminate sound exposure concerns and collect appreciably more data than is feasible with air-conducted stimuli; which in turn (3) increased statistical power because there were sufficient data for a linear mixed effects regression modelling analysis.ResultsWomen had significantly shorter VEMP peak to trough latency than men. The sex difference of 2.4 ms (95% CI [−0.9, −3.9], p = 0.0020) was 21% of the mean 11.4 ms VEMP peak to trough latency measured across women and men. There was no significant sex difference in VEMP peak to trough amplitude. These findings are a reversal of several prior studies in humans, reviewed here with a simulation indicating the studies may have been underpowered.DiscussionFindings are consistent with those in Brown Norway Rats, for which a study design featuring a custom rodent holder to control neck tension, extension of test sequences in comparison to those typically used in VEMP protocols for humans, and insertion of electrodes subcutaneously will have increased sensitivity compared to that achievable with clinical VEMP protocols for humans. Findings are interpreted as sex hormones affecting myelination or synaptic response; sexual dimorphism in neck/head size may also have contributed. The vestibular periphery and brainstem are highly conserved across vertebrates with similar findings in rat and human supporting use of VEMP as a reliable, non-invasive indicator of vestibular function. VEMP measures in humans may require higher sensitivity than is achievable using current clinical protocols in order to produce consistent results. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1684b25eb4094ba5bed45574fade1982 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1662-5145 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj-art-1684b25eb4094ba5bed45574fade19822025-08-20T03:05:13ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience1662-51452025-04-011910.3389/fnint.2025.14549241454924Novel cVEMP procedure reveals sexual dimorphism in peak to trough latencyMax Gattie0Max Gattie1Elena V. M. Lieven2Karolina Kluk3Department of Otolaryngology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United StatesManchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD), The University of Manchester, Manchester, United KingdomThe ESRC International Centre for Language and Communicative Development (LuCiD), The University of Manchester, Manchester, United KingdomManchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD), The University of Manchester, Manchester, United KingdomIntroductionSex difference in latency for cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) has been reported in Brown Norway rats. Human investigations of sex difference in VEMP latency have shown inconsistent results, although there are indicators of sexual dimorphism in vestibular function and a higher reporting rate for vestibular disorder in women than in men.MethodsSex effects in human VEMP were re-evaluated here using a procedure adapting clinical protocols for higher sensitivity. VEMP was compared between 24 women and 24 men using a novel procedure that (1) controlled neck tension with biofeedback and a padded head bar; (2) used body-conducted stimuli to eliminate sound exposure concerns and collect appreciably more data than is feasible with air-conducted stimuli; which in turn (3) increased statistical power because there were sufficient data for a linear mixed effects regression modelling analysis.ResultsWomen had significantly shorter VEMP peak to trough latency than men. The sex difference of 2.4 ms (95% CI [−0.9, −3.9], p = 0.0020) was 21% of the mean 11.4 ms VEMP peak to trough latency measured across women and men. There was no significant sex difference in VEMP peak to trough amplitude. These findings are a reversal of several prior studies in humans, reviewed here with a simulation indicating the studies may have been underpowered.DiscussionFindings are consistent with those in Brown Norway Rats, for which a study design featuring a custom rodent holder to control neck tension, extension of test sequences in comparison to those typically used in VEMP protocols for humans, and insertion of electrodes subcutaneously will have increased sensitivity compared to that achievable with clinical VEMP protocols for humans. Findings are interpreted as sex hormones affecting myelination or synaptic response; sexual dimorphism in neck/head size may also have contributed. The vestibular periphery and brainstem are highly conserved across vertebrates with similar findings in rat and human supporting use of VEMP as a reliable, non-invasive indicator of vestibular function. VEMP measures in humans may require higher sensitivity than is achievable using current clinical protocols in order to produce consistent results.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnint.2025.1454924/fullvestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP)cVEMPsexdimorphismvestibular |
| spellingShingle | Max Gattie Max Gattie Elena V. M. Lieven Karolina Kluk Novel cVEMP procedure reveals sexual dimorphism in peak to trough latency Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) cVEMP sex dimorphism vestibular |
| title | Novel cVEMP procedure reveals sexual dimorphism in peak to trough latency |
| title_full | Novel cVEMP procedure reveals sexual dimorphism in peak to trough latency |
| title_fullStr | Novel cVEMP procedure reveals sexual dimorphism in peak to trough latency |
| title_full_unstemmed | Novel cVEMP procedure reveals sexual dimorphism in peak to trough latency |
| title_short | Novel cVEMP procedure reveals sexual dimorphism in peak to trough latency |
| title_sort | novel cvemp procedure reveals sexual dimorphism in peak to trough latency |
| topic | vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) cVEMP sex dimorphism vestibular |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnint.2025.1454924/full |
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