Health education intervention and its impact on patients with unilateral vestibular dysfunction:An information-motivation-behavioral model approach

Unilateral vestibular dysfunction is a one-sided impairment of vestibular function in one ear.Incorporating health education in treatment and rehabilitation plans can improve vestibular function,keep negative emotions at bay,and reduce the extent of the condition.This letter investigates the impact of the informationmotivation-behavioral skills model as a medium for health education on patient outcomes.While offering encouraging observations,there are certain limitations,such as the study’s retrospective design,small sample size,use of subjective measures,and lack of longer follow-ups that challenge the cogency of the study.The study is a step toward transforming vestibular dysfunction treatment through health education.

Clinical characteristics and analysis of vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss in different ages

BACKGROUND Numerous studies have found that patients experiencing sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSHL),with or without accompanying vertigo,often show impaired vestibular function.However,there is a dearth of studies analyzing vestibularevoked myogenic potentials(VEMPs)in SSHL patients across various age groups.AIM To investigate vestibular condition in SSHL patients across various age demographics.METHODS Clinical data of 84 SSHL patients were investigated retrospectively.Audiometry,cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials(c-VEMPs),and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials(o-VEMPs)were conducted on these patients.Parameters assessed included the latencies of P1 and N1 waves,as well as the amplitudes of P1–N1 waves.Moreover,the study evaluated the influence of factors such as sex,affected side,configuration of hearing loss,and presence of accompanying vertigo.RESULTS Among the 84 SSHL patients,no significant differences were observed among the three groups in terms of gender,affected side,and the presence or absence of vertigo.Group II(aged 41–60 years)had the highest number of SSHL cases.The rates of absent o-VEMPs in the affected ears were 20.83%,31.58%,and 22.72%for the three age groups,respectively,with no statistically significant difference among them.The rates of absent c-VEMPs in the affected ears were 8.3%,34.21%,and 18.18%for the three age groups,respectively,with significant differences.In the unaffected ears,there were differences observed in the extraction rates of o-VEMPs in the unaffected ears among the age groups.In the three age groups,no significant differences were noted in the three age groups in the latencies of P1 and N1 waves or in the amplitude of N1–P1 waves for c-VEMPs and o-VEMPs,either on the affected side or on the unaffected side,across the three age groups.CONCLUSION The extraction rate of VEMPs is more valuable than parameters.Regardless of the presence of vertigo,vestibular organs are involved in SSHL.Notably,SSHL patients aged 41–60 appear more susceptible to damage to the inferior vestibular nerve and saccule.

Effect of health education based on information-motivationbehavioral skills model on patients with unilateral vestibular dysfunction

BACKGROUND Vestibular dysfunction(VH)is a common concomitant symptom of late peri-pheral vestibular lesions,which can be trauma,poisoning,infection,heredity,and neurodegeneration,but about 50%of the causes are unknown.The study uses the information-motivation-behavioral skills(IMB)model for health education,effectively improve the quality of life,increase their self-confidence,reduce anxiety and depression,and effectively improve the psychological state of patients.AIM To explore the effect of health education based on the IMB model on the degree of vertigo,disability,anxiety and depression in patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction.METHODS The clinical data of 80 patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction from January 2019 to December 2021 were selected as the retrospective research objects,and they were divided into the control group and the observation group with 40 cases in each group according to different nursing methods.Among them,the control group was given routine nursing health education and guidance,and the observation group was given health education and guidance based on the IMB model.The changes in self-efficacy,anxiety and depression,and quality of life of patients with unilateral VH were compared between the two groups.RESULTS There was no significant difference in General Self-Efficacy Scale(GSES)scale scores between the two groups of patients before nursing(P>0.05),which was comparable;after nursing,the GSES scale scores of the two groups were higher than those before nursing.The nursing group was higher than the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the scores of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS)and anxiety and depression subscales between the two groups before nursing(P>0.05).After nursing,the HADS score,anxiety,and depression subscale scores of the two groups of patients were lower than those before nursing,and the nursing group was lower than the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).After nursing,the Dizziness Handicap Inventory(DHI)scale and DHI-P,DHI-E and DHI-F scores in the two groups were decreased,and the scores in the nursing group were lower than those in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Health education based on the IMB model can effectively improve patients'quality of life,increase self-efficacy of patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction,enhance patients'confidence,enable patients to resume normal work and life as soon as possible,reduce patients'anxiety and depression,and effectively improve patients'psychological status.

Comparative utility of vestibular function tests in patients with peripheral and central vestibular dysfunction

Background: Bithermal caloric irrigation, video head impulse test(vHIT), and rotational testing are commonly used to assess peripheral vestibular function, but the relative clinical utility of each test in differentiating patients with peripheral vestibulopathy is debated.Objectives: To determine whether(1) the combination of two or more vestibular tests enhances diagnostic utility over a single test;(2) abnormal test results on vestibular tests correlate with one another.Methods: Retrospective analysis of data collected from multidisciplinary vestibular clinics at two academic medical centers from 2016 to 2022.Results: 150 patients(54.10 ± 15.09 years, 88 females) were included. No individual test was significantly better at predicting the presence of peripheral vestibular damage(p > 0.05). vHIT test results improved significantly when combined with either the caloric test(p = 0.007) or rotary chair test(p = 0.039). Caloric and rotational testing had high sensitivity(74.65% and 76.06%, respectively) and specificity(83.54% and 78.48%, respectively). vHIT demonstrated excellent specificity(89.87%) but poor sensitivity(47.89%). Caloric, vHIT, and rotary chair tests results did not correlate with one another(p > 0.05).Conclusions: Vestibular function tests have comparable diagnostic utility, yet each offers unique advantages. Caloric and rotational testing may be best suited for screening peripheral damage and vHIT may function ideally as a confirmatory test.

Masseter Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials: A new tool to assess the vestibulomasseteric reflex pathway

Purpose: This review article provides the readers with an in-depth insight in understanding and interpreting various research literatures on the masseter vestibular evoked myogenic potentials(mVEMP). The article also reviews the contemporary researches involving the clinical applications of the mVEMP. Conclusions: Masseter VEMP is an evolving yet clinically promising neuro-otology test tool that has recently gained more research interest and is considered an additional tool to diagnose various vestibular disorders. Masseter VEMP assesses the functional integrity of the acoustic-masseteric and vestibulo-masseteric reflex pathways. The mVEMP could be used as a complementary test to evaluate the same peripheral generator as the cervical VEMP but a different central pathway i.e., vestibulo-trigeminal pathway. Various research studies that have experimented on parameters such as the effect of different electrode montages(zygomatic vs mandibular configurations), stimulation rates, filter settings and stimuli used to evoke mVEMP have been discussed in this article that could assist in the optimization of a comprehensive clinical protocol. The latency and the amplitude of mVEMP waveforms serve as significant parameters in differentiating normals from those of the clinical populations. Along with the cVEMPs and oVEMPs, mVEMP might help diagnose brainstem lesions in REM Sleep behaviour disorders, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. However, further studies are required to probe in this area of research.

Saccades of video head impulse test in Meniere's disease and Vestibular Migraine: What can we learn from?

Background:Saccades are often observed on video head impulse tests(vHIT)in patients with Meniere's Disease(MD)and Vestibular Migraine(VM).However,their saccadic features are not fully described.Objective:This study aims to identify the saccades characteristics of MD and VM.Methods:75 VM patients and 103 definite unilateral MD patients were enrolled in this study.First raw saccades were exported and analyzed.The VM patients were divided into left and right based on their ears,while the MD patients were separated into affected and unaffected subgroups based on their audiograms and symptoms.Results:The MD patients have more saccades on the affected side(85%vs.69%),and saccade velocity is more consistent than the contralateral side(shown by the coefficient of variation).The saccades occurrence rates on both sides are similar in VM(77%vs.76%),as are other saccadic parameters.The MD patients have more significant inter-aural differences than the VM patients,manifested in higher velocity(p-value 0.000),earlier arriving(p-value 0.010),and more time-domain gathered(p-value 0.003)on the affected side.Conclusions:Bilateral saccades are commonly observed in MD and VM.In contrast to MD,saccades on VM are subtle,scattered,and late-arrived.Furthermore,the MD patients showed inconsistent saccadic distribution with more velocity-uniform saccades on the affected side.

Vestibular migraine in low-and lower-middle-income countries:A scoping review

Background:Vestibular migraine(VM)is a common cause of dizziness that is underrecognized,underdiagnosed,and challenging to effectively treat.The prevalence,appropriate diagnostic workup,and therapies for VM in low-and lower-middle-income countries(LLMICs)remain understudied.The objective of this scoping review is to evaluate the current state of VM research in LLMICs.Methods:PubMed,Embase,and Web of Science databases were searched to execute a scoping review of VM.Keywords“vestibular diseases”and“vertigo”were used in combination with terms referring to LLMICs as defined by the World Bank.Title and abstract screening,full-text review,and data collection were conducted by two authors independently.Results:Twenty-six studies were included in the scoping review.Most studies were cross-sectional(57.7%)or case studies/series(23.1%)and were conducted in urban settings only(92.3%).Geographic distribution of studies was skewed,with 65.4%of articles originating from India.The prevalence of VM among clinic patients ranged from 0.3%to 33.3%.VM most frequently presented as headache,nausea and vomiting,and photophobia.Radiographic imaging,audiometry,and electronystagmography/videonystagmography were the three most commonly utilized diagnostic modalities in the dizziness workup.The most studied pharmacotherapies included calcium channel blockers,followed by beta-blockers and antiepileptics.Case studies and series discussed less common VM pharmacotherapies,such as ayurvedic medicine.Conclusions:There is a need for more VM research in LLMICs,including innovative diagnostic approaches and therapies that can improve VM care globally.Equitable partnerships between LLMIC and highincome country researchers must expand vestibular research capacity and productivity in LLMICs.

Vestibular rehabilitation in cerebellar ataxia with neuropathy and vestibular areflexia syndrome(CANVAS)-A case report

Background and purpose:Cerebellar ataxia,neuropathy,and vestibular areflexia syndrome(CANVAS)is a neurodegenerative disease of the cerebellum.The disease progression is slow,with up to 25%of people diagnosed needing to use a wheelchair after 15 years from diagnosis.Vestibular symptoms arise from centrally-mediated ocular movement degradation and the reduced vestibular-ocular reflex functioning bilaterally.To date,no report has shown an improvement in VOR gain or gait outcome measures in someone with CANVAS after a course of vestibular physical therapy.Case description:A 65-year-old male,Patient X,first noticed symptoms in his fourth decade of life and was diagnosed with(CANVAS)in his seventh decade.Patient X reported numbness and tingling in his hands and feet,decreased ability to perform daily activities,and several falls.Intervention:Patient X completed a four-month course of vestibular physical therapy,including vestibular ocular reflex exercises,balance training,gait training,and the VestAid application for eye gaze compliance monitoring.The Vestaid application uses eyes and facial recognition software to record the percentage of time that the patient kept their eyes on the target.Outcomes:After vestibular therapy,Patient X had a clinically meaningful improvement in gait speed:from 1.02 m/s to 1.13 m/s and in the Functional Gait Assessment from 20/30 to 27/30.Patient X's eye gaze compliance improved from a median of 43%(range 25e68%)to a median of 67%(58e83%).Discussion:This case study demonstrates that vestibular rehabilitation improved eye gaze compliance and functional outcomes in a person living with CANVAS.

The minimal clinically important difference for gait speed in significant unilateral vestibular hypofunction after vestibular rehabilitation

Gait speed is a valid measure of both physical function and vestibular health.Vestibular rehabilitation is useful to improve gait speed for patients with vestibular hypofunction,yet there is little data to indicate how changes in gait speed reflect changes in patient-reported health outcomes.We determined the minimal clinically important difference in the gait speed of patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction,mostly due to deafferentation surgery,as anchored to the Dizziness Handicap Index and the Activities Balance Confidence scale,validated using regression analysis,change difference,receiveroperator characteristic curve,and average change methods.After six weeks of vestibular rehabilitation,a change in gait speed from 0.20 to 0.34 m/s with 95%confidence was required for the patients to perceive a significant reduction in perception of dizziness and improved balance confidence.

Misdiagnosis of Facial Nerve Palsy: A Case Report of Sporadic Vestibular Schwannomas (Non-NFM2) Causing Facial Nerve Palsy Be Misled by Bell’s Palsy in a Child

We report a case of a rare sporadic Vestibular Schwannoma of a 9-month-old girl who had a right-sided lower motor type facial nerve palsy. The patient was initially diagnosed with Bell’s palsy and received steroid treatment accordingly, two months later the patient’s condition deteriorated, and further evaluation of CT and MRI brain was conducted that showed a mass lesion in the posterior fossa causing compression on the facial nerve. Misdiagnosis of facial nerve paralysis is common among children due to multiple related etiologies and varying rates of incidence in comparison to adults. The authors hope to address this issue in this report. Background: Facial nerve paralysis has been a matter of concern for many researchers to understand its nature, causes and presentation according to different age groups. In adults, Bell’s palsy (BP), the idiopathic form of facial nerve paralysis, is more common compared to children where most cases are due to secondary etiologies. Therefore, pediatricians are in an important position to identify these patients early in order to launch the most effective diagnostic and treatment approaches.

Non-Traditional Management of Vestibular Migraine (Review)

Objectives: Vestibular migraine is one of the most common causes of episodic vertigo in adults and even in children. Traditional;management may have a side effect on the long run. So the aim of this review is to explain the other non-medical lines of management for patients with migraine. Methods: English articles from Medline and Cochrane library were searched and reviewed. Results: Evidence indicates that non-traditional management has a prophylactic and therapeutic effect on migraine patients with all its steps. Conclusion: Due to the possible side effects of pharmacological drugs and drug addictions, the use of non-traditional management alone or in combination with normal cures have been proposed. However, further constructive studies are required.

Exposure to blast shock waves via the ear canal induces deficits in vestibular afferent function in rats

The ears are air-filled structures that are directly impacted during blast exposure.In addition to hearing loss and tinnitus,blast victims often complain of vertigo,dizziness and unsteady posture,suggesting that blast exposure induces damage to the vestibular end organs in the inner ear.However,the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated.In this report,single vestibular afferent activity and the vestibuloocular reflex(VOR)were investigated before and after exposure to blast shock waves(~20 PSI)delivered into the left external ear canals of anesthetized rats.Single vestibular afferent activity was recorded from the superior branch of the left vestibular nerves of the blast-treated and control rats one day after blast exposure.Blast exposure reduced the spontaneous discharge rates of the otolith and canal afferents.Blast exposure also reduced the sensitivity of irregular canal afferents to sinusoidal head rotation at 0.5e2Hz.Blast exposure,however,resulted in few changes in the VOR responses to sinusoidal head rotation and translation.To the best of our knowledge,this is the first study that reports blast exposure-induced damage to vestibular afferents in an animal model.These results provide insights that may be helpful in developing biomarkers for early diagnosis of blast-induced vestibular deficits in military and civilian populations.

Modification of tenascin-R expression following unilateral labyrinthectomy in rats indicates its possible role in neural plasticity of the vestibular neural circuit

We have previously found that unilateral labyrinthectomy is accompanied by modification of hyaluronan and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan staining in the lateral vestibular nucleus of rats and the time course of subsequent reorganization of extracellular matrix assembly correlates to the restoration of impaired vestibular function. The tenascin-R has repelling effect on pathfinding during axonal growth/regrowth, and thus inhibits neural circuit repair. By using immunohistochemical method, we studied the modification of tenascin-R expression in the superior, medial, lateral, and descending vestibular nuclei of the rat following unilateral labyrin- thectomy. On postoperative day 1, tenascin-R reaction in the perineuronal nets disappeared on the side of labyrinthectomy in the superior, lateral, medial, and rostral part of the descending vestibular nuclei. On survival day 3, the staining intensity of tenascin-R reaction in perineuronal nets recovered on the operated side of the medial vestibular nucleus, whereas it was restored by the time of postoperative day 7 in the superior, lateral and rostral part of the descending vestib- ular nuclei. The staining intensity of tenascin-R reaction remained unchanged in the caudal part of the descending vestibular nucleus bilaterally. Regional differences in the modification of tena- scin-R expression presented here may be associated with different roles of individual vestibular nuclei in the compensatory processes. The decreased expression of the tenascin-R may suggest the extracellular facilitation of plastic modifications in the vestibular neural circuit after lesion of the labyrinthine receptors.

Evaluation of ocular and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in a conductive hearing loss model

Objective:To investigate the effects of conductive hearing loss (CHL) on vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) using a simulated CHL model, and to provide the basis for future studies. Methods:Twenty-one healthy subjects were recruited in this study. We measured ocular VEMPs (oVEMPs) and cervical VEMPs (cVEMPs) in these subjects by air-conduction sound (ACS) stimulation. CHL was simulated later by blocking the right external auditory canal with a soundproof earplug to evaluate its impacts on VEMPs. Subjects' responses before simulated CHL served as the control, and were compared to their responses following simulated CHL. Results: oVEMPs following simulated CHL showed decreased response rate, elevated thresholds, attenuated amplitudes and prolonged N1 latencies compared with those before simulated CHL, and the differences were statistically significant. Similarly, cVEMPs following simulated CHL also showed decreased response rate, elevated thresholds and attenuated amplitudes, with prolonged P1 latencies compared with those before simulated CHL, although only differences in response rate, threshold and amplitude were significant. Conclusions:Conductive hearing loss affects the response rate and other response parameters in oVEMPs and cVEMPs.

Evaluation of Vestibular Function in Diagnosis of Vestibular Schwannomas

Vestibular schwannomas(VS)are benign tumors of the vestibular nerve.The common first symptoms are hearing loss and tinnitus,followed by imbalance,vertigo,and facial nerve involvement.The subjective symptoms of VS patients are not consistent with the severity of vestibular lesions and the results of vestibular tests,which often interfere with clinicians’diagnoses.Thus,the main screening and diagnostic methods for VS are audiometry and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),ignoring the evaluation of vestibular function at the source of pathological lesions.With the development and improvement of vestibular evaluation technology and its wide application in the clinic,modern vestibular examination technology can reflect the severity and frequency of vestibular lesions and compensation from multiple perspectives,providing an objective basis for the diagnosis and treatment of vestibular diseases.In this report,we review the results and characteristics of vestibular tests in VS patients and further clarify the clinical value of vestibular function assessment in the diagnosis and treatment of VS.

A study on vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials via galvanic vestibular stimulation in normal people

Objectives: The aim of our study is to examine vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials(VEMPs) elicited by the galvanic vestibular stimulation in the sternocleidomastoid muscle(SCM) in healthy subjects for clinical applications of auditory neuropathy or vestibular neuropathy in the future.Methods: We enrolled sixteen healthy subjects to record the average responses of SCM to galvanic vestibular stimulation(GVS) [current 3 mA;duration 1 ms] by electromyography(EMG). SPSS 18.0 software was used to analyze the obtained data for mean and standard deviation.Results: In all healthy subjects mastoid-forehead galvanic vestibular stimulation produced a positive-negative biphasic EMG responses on SCM ipsilateral to the cathodal electrode. The latency of p13 was 11.7 ± 3.0 ms. The latency of n23 was 17.8 ± 3.4 ms. The amplitude of p13-n23 was147.0 ± 69.0 μV. The interaural asymmetry ratio(AR) of p13, n23 latency and the amplitude was respectively 0.12 ± 0.09, 0.08 ± 0.08 and0.16 ± 0.10.Discussions: Galvanic vestibular stimulation could elicit biphasic EMG responses from SCM via the vestibular nerve but not from the otolith organs. Galvanic stimulation together with air conducted sound(ACS) or bone conducted vibration(BCV) can elicit VEMPs and may enable the differentiation of retrolabyrinthine lesions from labyrinthine lesions in vestibular system.

Peripheral vestibular system: Age-related vestibular loss and associated deficits

Given the interdependence of multiple factors in age-related vestibular loss (e.g., balance, vision,cognition), it is important to examine the individual contributions of these factors with ARVL. While therelationship between the vestibular and visual systems has been well studied (Bronstein et al., 2015),little is known about the association of the peripheral vestibular system with neurodegenerative disorders (Cronin et al., 2017). Further, emerging research developments implicate the vestibular system asan opportunity for examining brain function beyond balance, and into other areas, such as cognition andpsychological functioning. Additionally, the bidirectional impact of psychological functioning is understudied in ARVL. Recognition of ARVL as part of a multifaceted aging process will help guide thedevelopment of integrated interventions for patients who remain at risk for decline. In this review, wewill discuss a wide variety of characteristics of the peripheral vestibular system and ARVL, how it relatesto neurodegenerative diseases, and correlations between ARVL and balance, vision, cognitive, and psychological dysfunction. We also discuss clinical implications as well as future directions for research, withan emphasis on improving care for patients with ARVL.

Analysis of video head impulse test saccades data in patients with vestibular migraine or probable vestibular migraine

Objective:Saccades accompanied by normal gain in video head impulse tests(vHIT)are often observed in patients with vestibular migraine(VM).However,they are not considered as an independent indicator,reducing their utility in diagnosing VM.To better understand clinical features of VM,it is necessary to understand raw saccades data.Methods:Fourteen patients with confirmed VM,45 patients with probable VM(p-VM)and 14 agematched healthy volunteers were included in this study.Clinical findings related to spontaneous nystagmus(SN),positional nystagmus(PN),head-shaking nystagmus(HSN),caloric test and vHIT were recorded.Raw saccades data were exported and numbered by their sequences,and their features analyzed.Results:VM patients showed no SN,PN or HSN,and less than half of them showed unilateral weakness(UW)on caloric test.The first saccades from lateral semicircular canal stimulation were the most predominant for both left and right sides.Neither velocity nor time parameters were significantly different when compared between the two sides.Most VM patients(86%)exhibited small saccades,around 35%of the head peak velocity,with a latency of 200e400 ms.Characteristics of saccades were similar in patients with p-VM.Only four normal subjects showed saccades,all unilateral and seemingly random.Conclusions:Small saccades involving bilateral semicircular canals with a scattered distribution pattern are common in patients with VM and p-VM.

Advantages of Short-term Personalized Vestibular Rehabilitation at Home Guided by Professional Therapist for Treatment of Decompensated Vestibular Vertigo

Objective Patients suffered a lot from decompensated vestibular vertigo.Pharmacotherapy and vestibular rehabilitation training have been proven to be effective in prompting vestibular compensation.Routine rehabilitation training is faced with the challenges of patients’compliance,completion,the average recuperation time and so on.This study is aimed to investigate advantages of short-term personalized vestibular rehabihitation at home guided by professional therapist.Methods A short-term personalized vestibular rehabilitation program(ST-PVR)was designed for patients with decompensated vestibular vertigo in this study.Results Patients experiencing the ST-PVR program showed significant improvement of Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS),Dizziness Handicap Inventory(DHI),Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale(ABC)scores by the second follow-up(at 2nd week after treatment,P<0.05).However-improvement in the medication group occurred slightly later,DHI for 1 month and SAS for 2 months after treatment(P<0.05).Also,the improvement in the onset time of unilateral weakness(UW)at 2nd week after treatment in the personalized vestibular rehabilitation(PVR)group was faster than that in the medication group.Conclusion In general,the short-term PVR program showed great advantages by prompting vestibular compensation quickly and putting forward future direction for clinical treatment on decompensated vestibular vertigo.

Lesion-induced changes of brevican expression in the perineuronal net of the superior vestibular nucleus

Damage to the vestibular sense organs evokes static and dynamic deficits in the eye movements,posture and vegetative functions.After a shorter or longer period of time,the vestibular function is partially or completely restored via a series of processes such as modification in the efficacy of synaptic inputs.As the plasticity of adult central nervous system is associated with the alteration of extracellular matrix,including its condensed form,the perineuronal net,we studied the changes of brevican expression in the perineuronal nets of the superior vestibular nucleus after unilateral labyrinth lesion.Our results demonstrated that the unilateral labyrinth lesion and subsequent compensation are accompanied by the changing of brevican staining pattern in the perineuronal nets of superior vestibular nucleus of the rat.The reduction of brevican in the perineuronal nets of superior vestibular nucleus may contribute to the vestibular plasticity by suspending the non-permissive role of brevican in the restoration of perineuronal net assembly.After a transitory decrease,the brevican expression restored to the control level parallel to the partial restoration of impaired vestibular function.The bilateral changing in the brevican expression supports the involvement of commissural vestibular fibers in the vestibular compensation.All experimental procedures were approved by the 'University of Debrecen–Committee of Animal Welfare'(approval No.6/2017/DEMAB) and the 'Scientific Ethics Committee of Animal Experimentation'(approval No.HB/06/éLB/2270-10/2017;approved on June 6,2017).