Objective oculomotor, vestibular, reaction time, and cognitive signatures of vestibular migraine

To evaluate oculomotor, vestibular, reaction time, and cognitive (OVRT-C) function in patients with vestibular migraine (VM) using objective eye-tracking-based metrics and to identify patterns of dysfunction relative to healthy controls. BACKGROUND: Vestibular migraine is a common yet underdiagnosed cause of vertigo....

✦ Clinical Takeaway ✦

Objective eye-tracking-based metrics show promise for differentiating vestibular migraine from other dizziness conditions, but the findings are preliminary and not yet ready to replace current clinical diagnostic criteria.

✦ Why It Matters ✦

Identifying reliable objective biomarkers for vestibular migraine would address a major clinical gap, as the condition is currently diagnosed by symptom criteria alone and is frequently misdiagnosed.

✦ Key Points ✦

01Study uses objective eye-tracking metrics to profile oculomotor, vestibular, and cognitive function in vestibular migraine.
02Vestibular migraine patients showed measurable differences in eye movements, balance, reaction time, and cognition.
03Objective markers could help differentiate vestibular migraine from other dizziness disorders.
04Current vestibular migraine diagnosis relies entirely on self-reported symptoms and clinical criteria.
05Published in Frontiers in Neurology; findings are exploratory and require replication in larger cohorts.

✦ Claims & Evidence ✦

ClaimEvidenceSupport

Patients with vestibular migraine have objective oculomotor, vestibular, reaction time, and cognitive differences detectable via eye-tracking.

studypartially supported

Objective eye-tracking metrics can serve as diagnostic signatures for vestibular migraine.

studypartially supported

✦ Research metadata ✦

PMID: 42246042
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2026.1789811.
Journal: Frontiers in Neurology
Publication type: research_article
Evidence level: 3
Population: Patients diagnosed with vestibular migraine
Intervention: Objective eye-tracking-based assessment of oculomotor, vestibular, reaction time, and cognitive function
Comparator: Healthy controls or non-vestibular migraine comparison group (implied)

Primary outcomes

Oculomotor function metrics via eye-tracking; Vestibular function measures; Reaction time and cognitive performance scores

✦ Related stories ✦

PubMed·Journal article·Vestibular·8d ago

Comparative efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions for persistent postural-perceptual dizziness: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of balance, anxiety, and depression outcomes

Audiologists and vestibular specialists managing PPPD should review the ranked treatment outcomes from this network meta-analysis to inform which non-pharmacological interventions — such as vestibular rehabilitation, CBT, or mindfulness — are most likely to address balance,...

PubMed·Journal article·Vestibular·2d ago

Efficacy of Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy on Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo After Repositioning: Improvement of Vestibular Symptoms and Vertigo Disability

Audiologists and vestibular specialists should consider recommending vestibular rehabilitation therapy following canalith repositioning in BPPV patients, as this RCT-level evidence suggests it meaningfully reduces residual vestibular symptoms and vertigo-related disability.

PubMed·Journal article·Vestibular·4w ago

Health-related quality of life disparities among vestibular schwannoma patients under different treatment regimens: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Clinicians counseling vestibular schwannoma patients on treatment choice should incorporate health-related quality of life evidence from this meta-analysis, which suggests treatment regimen significantly influences patient well-being outcomes.

PubMed·Journal article·Vestibular·8d ago

Falls and Fear of Falling in Minor Stroke Patients With Vestibular Symptoms: A Longitudinal Observational Study

Audiologists and balance specialists should be aware that minor stroke patients presenting with vestibular symptoms carry elevated long-term fall risk, supporting referral pathways to vestibular rehabilitation and falls-prevention programs.

PubMed·Journal article·Vestibular·4w ago

Vestibular Dysfunction and Postural Changes in Children With Congenital Cytomegalovirus: A Systematic Review

Audiologists managing children with congenital CMV should routinely consider vestibular assessment, as this systematic review indicates vestibular dysfunction and postural imbalance are prevalent in this population.

PubMed·Journal article·Vestibular·8d ago

Noise exposure and dizziness in middle-aged adults: a nationally representative study

Audiologists assessing noise-exposed patients should routinely screen for dizziness and vestibular symptoms, as this study adds population-level evidence linking noise exposure to dizziness risk.

PubMed·Journal article·Vestibular·4w ago

Audiovestibular Dysfunction in Alcohol Use Disorder: A Systematic Review of Human Primary Clinical Evidence

Audiologists should screen patients with known alcohol use disorder for both hearing and vestibular (balance system) dysfunction, as this systematic review confirms meaningful clinical associations; however, the strength of individual studies limits firm protocol changes pending...

PubMed·Journal article·Vestibular·3w ago

The interictal symptom burden in vestibular migraine-a condition in need of recognition

Audiologists and vestibular clinicians should screen vestibular migraine patients for persistent between-attack symptoms, as the interictal burden appears clinically significant and may require separate management beyond acute-attack treatment.