Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41188507›Full record

ArticleJournal of neurology2025

Perceptual response characterization in acute vestibular implant stimulation.

B Volpe, B L Vermorken, S C J Van Boxel, N Guinand, A Pérez Fornos, E M J Devocht, R van de Berg

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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

B VolpeDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Vestibular Disorders, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands. b.volpe@maastrichtuniversity.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-1125-9295
B L VermorkenDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Vestibular Disorders, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands.
S C J Van BoxelDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Vestibular Disorders, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands.
N GuinandDivision of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
A Pérez FornosDivision of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
E M J DevochtDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Vestibular Disorders, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands.
R van de BergDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Vestibular Disorders, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThe vestibular implant is a promising treatment option for patients with bilateral vestibulopathy. However, perceptual responses to acute electrical vestibular stimulation remain poorly understood. These perceptual responses are of specific interest as the vestibular system plays a central role in self-motion perception and spatial navigation. This study is the first to systematically examine perceptual responses to acute electrical vestibular stimulation.

methodsNine subjects with bilateral vestibulopathy and severe sensorineural hearing loss in the ear to be implanted were included in this study and received an investigational multichannel vestibulocochlear implant. Perceptual responses were assessed for each vestibular electrode across the semicircular canals, over multiple sessions within one year post-implantation. Electrical stimuli were delivered with gradually increasing intensity using a stepwise approach. Following each stimulus, subjects were interviewed about their perceived experiences using an open, semi-structured approach. Responses were categorized by perception type, and thresholds were analyzed relative to stimulation intensity and the targeted ampullary nerve.

resultsThree main types of perceptual responses were identified: motion, auditory, and vibration. Motion perception roughly aligned with the axis of the stimulated canal. Auditory perceptions increased in pitch with increasing stimulation amplitude. Vibration was consistently reported across all subjects and vestibular electrodes. Perceived intensity increased linearly with stimulation amplitude, from low threshold to upper comfortable level.

conclusionThis study structurally characterized perceptual responses to electrical vestibular stimulation in subjects with a vestibulocochlear implant for the first time. The identification of distinct response types and their relationship to stimulus parameters provides a foundation for improving implant fitting and optimizing stimulation paradigms. Future studies should refine fitting strategies based on these perceptual findings.

Indexed as

Auditory PerceptionBilateral VestibulopathyHearing Loss, SensorineuralMotion PerceptionAdultAgedCochlear ImplantsElectric StimulationFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedBilateral vestibular lossBilateral vestibulopathyPerceptionPerceptual responseVestibular implantVestibulocochlear implant

Identifiers

PMID41188507
PMCPMC12586226

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.