VIBRANT-VM: Vestibular Investigation of Bone-conducted Resonant Analysis of Time-constants in Patients With Vestibular Migraines

This study is designed to investigate the effects of The Otolith Labs bone conduction device (BCD) on the vestibular system. In the context of this trial, the BCD was designed and developed to reduce the effects of external stimulation of the vestibular system. The eventual intended use of the device is for people who have vestibular disorders (e.g. Vestibular Migraine, Meniere's Disease) who may benefit from a device that can provide a normalizing response to an abnormal vestibular neural signal.

To better understand the functioning principles of the BCD, the investigators want to conduct standard clinical testing using a rotary chair, specifically

1. Step velocity testing (SVT) with the chair rotating and vision denied
2. Optokinetic testing (OKT) with the chair stationary and visual field moving

Published studies have demonstrated that a reduction in the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) time constants during optokinetic and velocity step testing is correlated with improved motion sickness symptoms. The investigators aim to determine if the BCD similarly reduces the VOR time constant. A reduction in time constant has been shown to be strongly correlated with a reduced time constant of integration in the central velocity storage (a long time constant very strongly correlates with motion sensitivity and with the severity of vestibular migraine episodes.

In this study, the BCD is set at one of three settings- turned off, low power level, high power level, -while the participant is undergoing testing at 60 °/s (patient's own motion for step velocity testing, or projected image for OKT). The same test methodology and equipment shall be used for all participants. In total, 6 rotational tests - one clockwise rotation and one counterclockwise rotation at each of the three power settings, and 6 static tests - with the visual field moving left then right at each of the three power settings, will be conducted and the order of the high/low power settings will be randomized to the second/third set of SVT and OKT. The device is adjusted to a new power level a few seconds before initiating each SVT and OKT.