Abstract:ObjectiveTo verify the complementary effect of head impulse paradigm (HIMP) and suppression head impulse paradigm (SHIMP) in vestibuloocular reflex.MethodsThirtythree patients with superior vestibular neuritis and 10 normal subjects (20 ears) were selected. Matching analyses on parameters including the gain of HIMP and SHIMP, latency and amplitude of saccades, and the percentage of saccades were made between the affected side of patients and the normal group to compare their relationships.ResultsThere was a linear positive correlation between the HIMP gain and the SHIMP gain, the former was greater than the latter,, and the difference was statistically significant (t=5.890, r=0.956, all P=0.000). The latency of HIMP was higher than that of SHIMP (t=-3.360,P=0.001), but there was no correlation r=0.180,(P=0.196). The saccades amplitude of HIMP was negatively correlated with that of SHIMP (r=-0.484, P=0.000), and the saccades percentage of HIMP was negatively correlated with that of SHIMP (r=-0.604, P=0.000). The gain of HIMP was negatively correlated with the saccades latency, amplitude and percentage of HIMP. The gain of SHIMP was positively correlated with the compensatory saccade amplitude and percentage of SHIMP(P<0.05). There was no correlation between the gain of SHIMP and the saccades latency of SHIMP(r=-0.044, P=0.756).ConclusionBoth SHIMP and HIMP can be used to test the direct pathway of horizontal angular vestibuloocular reflex (aVOR). The gain, amplitude, and the percentage of saccades are dynamic indexes to evaluate vestibular function. Their parameter changes may have certain guiding significance to the evaluation of the damage and recovery of VOR pathway.