Beyond dizziness: Virtual navigation, spatial anxiety and hippocampal volumein bilateral vestibulopathy

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Olympia Kremmyda - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Katharina Hüfner - , Innsbruck Medical University (Author)
  • Virginia L. Flanagin - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Derek A. Hamilton - , University of New Mexico (Author)
  • Jennifer Linn - , Institute and Polyclinic of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Michael Strupp - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Klaus Jahn - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Schoen Clinc Bad Abling Harthausen (Author)
  • Thomas Brandt - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)

Abstract

Bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP) is defined as the impairment or loss of function of either the labyrinths or the eighth nerves. Patients with total BVP due to bilateral vestibular nerve section exhibit difficulties in spatial memory and navigation and show a loss of hippocampal volume. In clinical practice, most patients do not have a complete loss of function but rather an asymmetrical residual functioning of the vestibular system. The purpose of the current study was to investigate navigational ability and hippocampal atrophy in BVP patients with residual vestibular function. Fifteen patients with BVP and a group of age- and gender- matched healthy controls were examined. Self-reported questionnaires on spatial anxiety and wayfinding were used to assess the applied strategy of wayfinding and quality of life. Spatial memory and navigation were tested directly using a virtual Morris Water Maze Task. The hippocampal volume of these two groups was evaluated by voxel-based morphometry. In the patients, the questionnaire showed a higher spatial anxiety and the Morris Water Maze Task a delayed spatial learning performance. MRI revealed a significant decrease in the gray matter mid-hippocampal volume (Left: p = 0.006, Z = 4.58, Right: p < 0.001, Z = 3.63) and posterior parahippocampal volume (Right: p = 0.005, Z = 4.65, Left: p < 0.001, Z = 3.87) compared to those of healthy controls. In addition, a decrease in hippocampal formation volume correlated with a more dominant route-finding strategy. Our current findings demonstrate that even partial bilateral vestibular loss leads to anatomical and functional changes in the hippocampal formation and objective and subjective behavioral deficits.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-12
Number of pages12
JournalFrontiers in human neuroscience
Volume10
Issue numberMAR2016
Publication statusPublished - 31 Mar 2016
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Hippocampal atrophy, Loss of vestibular function, Navigation strategies, Spatial anxiety, Spatial orientation