Dizziness or vertigo investigations
The study of dizziness or vertigo consists in the application of stimuli on each one of the peripherical sensors proprioceptive, vestibular and visual which are involved in the equilibrium process in order to be able to obtain an answer from the central computer or brain which may be quantitatively and graphically illustrated.
| Sensor | System | Methods | Quantitative measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprioceptive | Vestibulospinal | Stepping and Static tests | Cranio corpography (CCG) |
| Vestibular | Vestibulo-ocular | Caloric and Rotatoric tests | Computer Nystagmography (CNG) |
| Visual | Retino-ocular | Tracking, Saccadic and Optokinetic tests | Computer Nystagmography (CNG) |
Interaction of the three systems
| Sensors | Methods - Quantitative measure |
|---|---|
| Proprioceptive
Vestibular Visual |
Test of Balance (TOB) – Dynamic Posturography |
Craniocorpography - CCG: Objectified and quantified by means of the vestibulospinal system video (Romberg's and Unterberger's tests).
Equipments for neurophysiological measuring used in our laboratories.
Vestibulo-thalamocortical projections, vestibulocortical answers as well as their secondary areas could also be illustrated in a chart from a quantitative and graphical point of view.
| Vestibulo thalamo cortical Pathway | Brain Evoked Potential | Vestibular Evoked Potential (VbEP)
Brain Electric Tomography of VpEP. |
|---|---|---|
| Brain Electrical Activity | Electroencephalography | Brain Electrical Activity Mapping (BEAM)
Brain Electrical Activity Mapping (BEAM) under rotatory stimulation Virtual Reality Brain Electrical Activity Mapping (VR-BEAM) Brain Electric Tomography. |
Akonic Brain mapping equipment - 21 channels
Mapping of Vestibular Evoked Potentials -VbEP-. This is one of the most improved and sensible methods to differentiate peripheral and central vestibular lesions.
Normal Brain Projection of Vestibular Evoked Potential (VbEP), Brain Electric Tomography – Atlas of Talairach.
Parameters and patterns are obtained from these studies which make possible to establish a difference between a regular situation from those which are not, to differentiate by means of the answers, depressive states from those of release, to make a proper topographical localization of the injury for furtherly establish the suitable therapy in line with the affected areas.
Previous to this neurophysiological knowledge, it was estimated that vertigo was produced by some trouble derived from the spine or from the ear, being this one wrongly known as Menière disease.
Otherwise, in those cases when a reliable reason was very difficult to be proved, the vertigo has generally been considered of psycological origin, connecting the patient with psychiatric areas. Thus, on evaluating vertigo from this standpoint, patients start perambulating from one consulting room to another trying to find out an answer to their disease.