Livneh Nir, Shimron Hadas Ben-Rubi, Tessler Idit, Rozendorn Noa, Alsleibi Shibli, Wolfovitz Amit, Gimmon Yoav
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel.
Laryngoscope. 2025 Sep;135(9):3364-3370. doi: 10.1002/lary.32160. Epub 2025 Apr 1.
This study investigates the impact of sleep deprivation on the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) in healthcare night-shift workers, focusing on basic VOR function and its adaptation during head movements with varying target distances.
A prospective study was conducted with 14 night-shift healthcare workers, with a final analysis of 11 participants. Testing occurred under two conditions: After normal sleep and after a night shift. VOR gain was measured using the video head impulse test (vHIT) system for both active and passive head movements and for near and far targets. Participants also completed the computerized Dynamic Visual Acuity (c-DVA) test to assess gaze stability and a self-reported vigilance questionnaire.
Participants experienced significantly shorter sleep durations and reported lower vigilance levels on the post-night shift. VOR gain was notably reduced (7.5%) only during passive head movements toward a far target after a night shift. Other vestibular functions, such as distance modulation and other measurements including active head impulses, near-target tests, and c-DVA scores, showed no significant differences between normal sleep and sleep-deprived states.
Sleep deprivation in healthcare night-shift workers demonstrated a complex effect on VOR, with significant impairment in only one specific condition (passive-far). Most other VOR functions, including adaptation to target distance, were maintained. This resilience may indicate an adaptive mechanism within the vestibular system under chronic sleep-deprived conditions, warranting further research into the underlying protective processes.
本研究调查医疗保健夜班工作者睡眠剥夺对前庭眼反射（VOR）的影响，重点关注基本VOR功能及其在不同目标距离头部运动过程中的适应性。
对14名医疗保健夜班工作者进行了一项前瞻性研究，最终对11名参与者进行了分析。测试在两种条件下进行：正常睡眠后和夜班后。使用视频头脉冲测试（vHIT）系统测量主动和被动头部运动以及近、远目标的VOR增益。参与者还完成了计算机化动态视力（c-DVA）测试以评估注视稳定性，并填写了一份自我报告的警觉性问卷。
参与者在夜班后睡眠时间明显缩短，且报告的警觉性水平较低。仅在夜班后被动头部向远目标运动时，VOR增益显著降低（7.5%）。其他前庭功能，如距离调节以及包括主动头部脉冲、近目标测试和c-DVA分数在内的其他测量，在正常睡眠和睡眠剥夺状态之间没有显著差异。
医疗保健夜班工作者的睡眠剥夺对VOR显示出复杂的影响，仅在一种特定条件下（被动-远）有显著损害。大多数其他VOR功能，包括对目标距离的适应性，得以维持。这种恢复能力可能表明在前庭系统中存在一种慢性睡眠剥夺条件下的适应性机制，值得对潜在的保护过程进行进一步研究。
