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Sensations of self-motion and vertigo are common among patients and technologists near MRI scanners and especially near stronger magnetic fields.1,2 It was recently discovered that all humans with intact vestibular function have nystagmus the entire time they are in a 7T MRI. This nystagmus is due to a Lorentz force arising from the interaction between the MRI magnetic field and normal ionic currents in the inner ear, which induces labyrinthine stimulation by pushing the endolymph onto the semicircular canal cupula.3–5 The force scales with magnetic field strength, but nystagmus can be seen in magnetic fields of strengths as low as 1.5T.3
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgment: The authors thank Dale Roberts for help with data collection and Krysta Bearish, PA, and Yemissi Sanni for assistance in coordinating the patient's care.
Footnotes
Author contributions: Bryan K. Ward: drafting/revising the manuscript, study concept or design, analysis or interpretation of data, accepts responsibility for conduct of research and final approval, acquisition of data, study supervision. David S. Zee: drafting/revising the manuscript, study concept or design, accepts responsibility for conduct of research and final approval. David Solomon: drafting/revising the manuscript, analysis or interpretation of data, accepts responsibility for conduct of research and final approval, acquisition of data. Gary L. Gallia: drafting/revising the manuscript, analysis or interpretation of data, accepts responsibility for conduct of research and final approval, study supervision. Douglas D. Reh: drafting/revising the manuscript, study concept or design, analysis or interpretation of data, accepts responsibility for conduct of research and final approval, study supervision.
Study funding: No targeted funding reported.
Disclosure: The authors report no disclosures relevant to the manuscript. Go to Neurology.org for full disclosures.
- Received December 3, 2014.
- Accepted in final form April 8, 2015.
- © 2015 American Academy of Neurology
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