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ORCID
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8686-7204
Date of Graduation
5-15-2025
Semester of Graduation
Spring
Degree Name
Doctor of Audiology (AuD)
Department
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
First Advisor
Erin Piker
Second Advisor
Lincoln Gray
Third Advisor
Yingjiu Nie
Abstract
Early studies have found that engaging in vestibular training, such as dance, may result in enhanced VOR suppression and changes in vestibular perception (e.g., lower sensations of vertigo) attributed to top-down modulation of subcortical neuronal networks and changes in the cerebellum. Dancers use spotting techniques to help control dizziness which involve holding their gaze on a visual object at eye level as they turn. As a result of this training, dancers become habituated to vestibular stimuli leading to lower VOR responses and decreased sensations of vertigo. This study investigated the relationship between the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) and vestibular perception in college aged dancers. Vestibular perception, VOR, and VOR suppression were assessed using sinusoidal harmonic acceleration (SHA). Eighteen individuals participated, 9 controls and 9 dancers. Results revealed no significant difference in VOR suppression or VOR gain between dancers and controls. Correlations between vestibular perception and slow phase eye velocity (SPV) showed that most participants in both groups perceived faster motion when higher SPV values were measured. Overall, there were no significant differences when assessing vestibular perception and SPV between the two groups. However, there was evidence of individual dancers with more extensive dance experience who presented with robust vestibular perception but low SPV values, indicating a difference between perception and physiology following dance training. Larger sample sizes and dancers with more advanced training are needed in future research to examine this effect.
