Vestibular-Evoked Cerebral Potentials

Abstract

The human vestibular cortex has mostly been approached using functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography combined with artificial stimulation of the vestibular receptors or nerve. Few studies have used electroencephalography and benefited from its high temporal resolution to describe the spatiotemporal dynamics of vestibular information processing from the first milliseconds following vestibular stimulation. Evoked potentials (EPs) are largely used to describe neural processing of other sensory signals, but they remain poorly developed and standardized in vestibular neuroscience and neuro-otology. Yet, vestibular EPs of brainstem, cerebellar, and cortical origin have been reported as early as the 1960s. This review article summarizes and compares results from studies that have used a large range of vestibular stimulation, including natural vestibular stimulation on rotating chairs and motion platforms, as well as artificial vestibular stimulation (e.g., sounds, impulsive acceleration stimulation, galvanic stimulation). These studies identified vestibular EPs with short latency (<20 ms), middle latency (from 20 to 50 ms), and late latency (>50 ms). Analysis of the generators (source analysis) of these responses offers new insights into the neuroimaging of the vestibular system. Generators were consistently found in the parieto-insular and temporo-parietal junction—the core of the vestibular cortex—as well as in the prefrontal and frontal areas, superior parietal, and temporal areas. We discuss the relevance of vestibular EPs for basic research and clinical neuroscience and highlight their limitations.

Neural bases of the bodily self as revealed by electrical brain stimulation: A systematic review

“…Of note, the posterior insula contains neurons responding to somatosensory stimuli to various body parts, and also to the entire body, making it a crucial area for whole-body integration and perception (Coq et al, 2004;Evrard, 2019;Schneider et al, 1993). The posterior insula also overlaps with the human equivalent of the monkey parieto-insular vestibular cortex, as revealed by functional neuroimaging and electrophysiological data (Bense et al, 2001;Bottini et al, 2001;Dieterich et al, 2003;Frank et al, 2014;Frank & Greenlee, 2018;Guldin & Grüsser, 1998;Lopez, Blanke, & Mast, 2012;Nakul et al, 2021). This area, which is considered the core of the vestibular cortical network, is involved in processing signals about self motion, and should therefore be important for the bodily self, given the recognized role of vestibular information for the neural underpinning of the bodily self (Lenggenhager & Lopez, 2015;Lopez, 2013Lopez, , 2016Lopez & Elzière, 2018;Lopez, Schreyer, et al, 2012).…”

Exploring physiological stress response evoked by passive translational acceleration in healthy adults: a pilot study utilizing electrodermal activity and heart rate variability measurements

“…Consequently, it is probable that the evoked responses outlined in this paper are not solely attributed to the otolith apparatus but can potentially be influenced by proprioception. The pervasive acknowledgment of this limitation and its extensive discussion in various sources are common knowledge 35 . Another potential limitation of this study lies in the relatively small sample size.…”

Electroencephalographic response to transient adaptation of vestibular perception

“…The results of the imaginary coherence analysis were unexpected, as the network identified comprised almost exclusively fronto‐central and centroparietal connections. However, it has been theorised that midline regions can reflect late‐latency vestibular signals (Nakul et al., 2021; Todd et al., 2014), which may reflect some of the bottom‐up feed‐forward mechanisms discussed previously.…”