Power spectra prognostic aspects of impulsive eye movement traces in superior vestibular neuritis

Since usefulness of power spectra (PS) analysis was demonstrated in many fields of electrophysiology, the aims of the present study were to evaluate differences in frequency domain values of eye velocity traces between a group of 60 healthy subjects (HC) and 35 matched superior vestibular neuritis (VN) patients and to determine prognostic aspects of such values in terms of superior VN recovery. PS calculated on video head impulse test traces was compared between HC and during the acute stage of vertigo (T1) and after 3 months (T2) in superior VN patients. A multiple regression and desirability model between Δ (T2gain - T1gain) vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain and five prognostic factors were employed. Significant PS differences within the 7.8-16.6 Hz domain were found between superior VN and HC. A significant negative correlation was found between the 7.8-16.6 Hz domain unitary PS value and Δ VOR gain (β = - 0.836). The desirability model depicted a cutoff value of the unitary PS equal to 1.82 in order to obtain a Δ VOR gain rate at least equal to 0.1. Present findings could be a further step for monitoring those superior VN patients with systemic risk factors and high risk of VOR incomplete recovery. Graphical abstract In the top left, healthy control (HC) and superior vestibular neuritis (VN) subjects were screened by means of video head impulse test. In the top right, significant differences in power spectra values were depicted within the 7.8-16.6 Hz domain when comparing the two groups of subjects. In the bottom center, the desirability model depicts a cutoff value of the power spectra equal to 1.82 in order to obtain a Δ vestibulo-ocular reflex gain rate at least equal to 0.1.