Nonlinear vestibular reflex clues in aging adults
Official title: Nonlinearities in Human Vestibular Reflexes
Funded at James Madison University · NIH-11381833 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in adults investigates how age-related changes affect the brain’s balance signals to improve diagnosis and rehabilitation for balance disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | James Madison University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Harrisonburg, United States) |
| Project start | August 12, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC021684-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381833 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older with or at risk for balance disorders who can participate in vestibular testing.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals unable to undergo vestibular stimulation or with conditions that preclude reliable VEMP measurements.
What this research studies
Researchers at James Madison University will use new electrophysiology methods to measure nonlinear responses in vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) as people age. They will separately examine cervical VEMPs (saccule-related) and ocular VEMPs (uticle-related) under sustained stimulation to uncover how aging changes these signals. The goal is to link nonlinearities in these responses with balance function, potentially guiding better diagnostics and rehab strategies for adults with balance problems.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to improved tests and targeted rehabilitation for balance disorders in adults.
How similar studies have gone: Prior human studies have explored VEMPs, but this project is among the first to study nonlinearities in these responses with aging.
Where this research is happening
-
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Piker, Erin G — James Madison University
- Study coordinator: Piker, Erin G
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Autism and Anxiety in Teens: Using Heart Signals to Understand Feelings
A physician-researcher at a university is studying whether autonomic signals like heart rate can serve as a simple clue to anxiety in autistic teens.
-
How aging changes balance signals from the inner ear
This project looks at new recordings of inner-ear reflex signals in adults to understand how aging changes balance.
-
Investigating new ways to maintain the function of a key protein in heart and skin diseases
This study is looking at a protein called desmoplakin, which is important for keeping cells together, and it's for people with heart and skin conditions linked to problems with this protein; the researchers want to find ways to fix or protect it so that it works better and helps improve health.
-
Understanding how aging affects balance through vestibular reflexes
This study is looking at how getting older affects balance by checking how well the inner ear helps with stability, and it's designed for adults who want to understand more about balance issues and improve their overall stability.
-
Understanding how integrins affect brain development and function
This study is looking at how a specific protein called integrin beta 3 affects brain development and function, which could help us understand and improve treatments for conditions like autism.
-
Investigating how certain enzymes in mitochondria regulate energy production.
This study is looking at how a special enzyme in our cells helps produce energy and can create harmful substances, which is important for understanding conditions like cancer and heart disease, and it aims to find new ways to treat these issues.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.