Reducing Vertigo Associated With MRI Machines

NCT06062368 | Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: IRB00413291K23DC018302
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 100
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Vertigo, dizziness, and imbalance are commonly reported by patients and technologists when near high-field strength magnets (\>4 Tesla, T) used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (1-5) Prior research from the investigators has established that the mechanism is likely a Lorentz force occurring in the inner ear, as a result of interactions with normal electrical currents in the inner ear and the strong static magnetic field of the MRI machine. The investigators have recently developed preliminary data to suggest that slower rates of entry into the magnetic field can greatly attenuate the sensations of vertigo. The explanation for this is that the rates of vestibular adaptation exceed that of the stimulus, allowed a reduction or elimination of the symptoms of vertigo. The aim of this study is to recruit individuals who are already getting an MRI scan as part of other research studies to randomize the rate of entry into and exit from the static magnetic field (i.e., before and after imaging is performed). The usual rate of entry is 20 seconds. This will be increased to one, two or three minutes. The investigators will record subjective sensations of dizziness and vertigo associated with the entry into the MRI.

Conditions

Vertigo; Dizziness

Keywords

MRI; 7 Tesla; Magnetic Vestibular Stimulation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Prevalence of vertigo symptoms

  Participants will report the presence and intensity of their vertigo. The presence or absence of vertigo for each group will be the primary outcome.

  During MRI up to 6 minutes

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Intensity of Vertigo

  During MRI up to 6 minutes

• Duration (seconds) of Vertigo

  During MRI up to 6 minutes

Study Arms (4)

Standard Duration

NO INTERVENTION

The participant will undergo an MRI scan using the manufacturer's rate of entry into and exit from the MRI machine. This rate of entry and exit is 20 seconds.

1-minute entry

EXPERIMENTAL

The participant will undergo an MRI scan using a slower rate of entry than that specified by the manufacturer. This rate of entry is one minute (60 seconds).

Behavioral: Rate of Entry

2-minute entry

EXPERIMENTAL

The participant will undergo an MRI scan using a slower rate of entry than that specified by the manufacturer. This rate of entry is two minutes (120 seconds).

Behavioral: Rate of Entry

3-minute entry

EXPERIMENTAL

The participant will undergo an MRI scan using a slower rate of entry than that specified by the manufacturer. This rate of entry is three minutes (180 seconds).

Behavioral: Rate of Entry

Interventions

Rate of Entry BEHAVIORAL

The participant will enter and exit the MRI scan at a slower rate than the manufacturer entry and exit.

1-minute entry; 2-minute entry; 3-minute entry

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Participants who will be undergoing an MRI scan at a 7 Tesla MRI.

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnancy
• Claustrophobia occurs in perhaps 5% of patients, and they will not proceed with the test. All subjects will fill out the routine pretesting MRI questionnaire.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Johns Hopkins University: lead
• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (4)

• Mian OS, Li Y, Antunes A, Glover PM, Day BL. Effect of head pitch and roll orientations on magnetically induced vertigo. J Physiol. 2016 Feb 15;594(4):1051-67. doi: 10.1113/JP271513. Epub 2015 Dec 30.

  PMID: 26614577 BACKGROUND

• Mian OS, Li Y, Antunes A, Glover PM, Day BL. On the vertigo due to static magnetic fields. PLoS One. 2013 Oct 30;8(10):e78748. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078748. eCollection 2013.

  PMID: 24205304 BACKGROUND

• Roberts DC, Marcelli V, Gillen JS, Carey JP, Della Santina CC, Zee DS. MRI magnetic field stimulates rotational sensors of the brain. Curr Biol. 2011 Oct 11;21(19):1635-40. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2011.08.029. Epub 2011 Sep 22.

  PMID: 21945276 BACKGROUND

• Ward BK, Roberts DC, Otero-Millan J, Zee DS. A decade of magnetic vestibular stimulation: from serendipity to physics to the clinic. J Neurophysiol. 2019 Jun 1;121(6):2013-2019. doi: 10.1152/jn.00873.2018. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

  PMID: 30969883 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Vertigo; Dizziness

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Vestibular Diseases; Labyrinth Diseases; Ear Diseases; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Sensation Disorders

Study Officials

• Bryan Ward, MD

  Johns Hopkins University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Bryan K Ward, MD

CONTACT

443-997-6467; bryan.k.ward@gmail.com

Adrian Paez, BA

CONTACT

443-923-9200; paez@kennedykrieger.org

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: The participant will be unaware of the group they are participating in.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Individuals will be randomized to one of four groups, each with a different rate of entry into and exit out of the 7 Tesla MRI machine.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 25, 2023
• First Posted: October 2, 2023
• Study Start: January 15, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2028
• Last Updated: November 12, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)