Scientific publications

Scientific publication list


Balaban, C. D., Szczupak, M., Kiderman, A., Levin, B. E., & Hoffer, M. E. (2020). Distinctive Convergence Eye Movements in an Acquired Neurosensory Dysfunction. Frontiers in Neurology, 11, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2020.00469

Chan, L., Hallett, M., Zalewski, C. K., Brewer, C. C., Zampieri, C., Hoa, M., Lippa, S. M., Fitzgibbon, E., French, L. M., Moses, A. D., van, Pierpaoli, C., L. Christine Turtzo, Simge Yonter, Pashtun Shahim, Moore, B., Stamps, L., Flynn, S., Fontana, J., & Tata, S. (2024). Clinical, Biomarker, and Research Tests Among US Government Personnel and Their Family Members Involved in Anomalous Health Incidents. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2024.2413

Golomb, B. A. (2018). Diplomats’ Mystery Illness and Pulsed Radiofrequency/Microwave Radiation. Neural Computation, 30(11), 2882–2985. https://doi.org/10.1162/neco_a_01133

Hoffer, M. E., Levin, B. E., Snapp, H., Buskirk, J., & Balaban, C. (2018). Acute findings in an acquired neurosensory dysfunction. Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.231

Swanson, R. L., Hampton, S., Green-McKenzie, J., Diaz-Arrastia, R., Grady, M. S., Verma, R., Biester, R., Duda, D., Wolf, R. L., & Smith, D. H. (2018). Neurological Manifestations Among US Government Personnel Reporting Directional Audible and Sensory Phenomena in Havana, Cuba. JAMA, 319(11), 1125–1133. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.1742

Pierpaoli, C., Nayak, A., Hafiz, R., M. Okan Irfanoglu, Chen, G., Taylor, P., Hallett, M., Hoa, M., Pham, D., Chou, Y.-Y., Moses, A. D., van, Lippa, S. M., Brewer, C. C., Zalewski, C. K., Zampieri, C., L. Christine Turtzo, Pashtun Shahim, Chan, L., & Moore, B. (2024). Neuroimaging Findings in US Government Personnel and Their Family Members Involved in Anomalous Health Incidents. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2024.2424

Verma, R., Swanson, R. L., Parker, D., Ould Ismail, A. A., Shinohara, R. T., Alappatt, J. A., Doshi, J., Davatzikos, C., Gallaway, M., Duda, D., Chen, H. I., Kim, J. J., Gur, R. C., Wolf, R. L., Grady, M. S., Hampton, S., Diaz-Arrastia, R., & Smith, D. H. (2019). Neuroimaging Findings in US Government Personnel With Possible Exposure to Directional Phenomena in Havana, Cuba. JAMA, 322(4), 336–347. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2019.9269



Scientific publication detailed list

1st scientific publication

Neurological Manifestations Among US Government Personnel Reporting Directional Audible and Sensory Phenomena in Havana, Cuba.

Swanson, R. L., Hampton, S., Green-McKenzie, J., Diaz-Arrastia, R., Grady, M. S., Verma, R., Biester, R., Duda, D., Wolf, R. L., & Smith, D. H. (2018).

JAMA, 319(11), 1125–1133. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.1742

(University of Pennsylvania – Medical School)

 

Cited by Miami Herald news article Doctors reveal possible ‘neuro-weapon’ used in alleged attacks in Cuba"



2nd scientific publication

Diplomats’ Mystery Illness and Pulsed Radiofrequency/Microwave Radiation.

Golomb, B. A. (2018).

Neural Computation, 30(11), 2882–2985. https://doi.org/10.1162/neco_a_01133

(UC San Diego - School of Medicine)

 

PDF: http://bit.ly/2KXNaAV

Cited by UC San Diego Health news article: Researcher Links Diplomats’ Mystery Illness to Radiofrequency/Microwave Radiation 


3rd scientific publication

Acute findings in an acquired neurosensory dysfunction.

Hoffer, M. E., Levin, B. E., Snapp, H., Buskirk, J., & Balaban, C. (2018).

Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.231

(University of Miami – Medical School)

 

Cited by Miami University news article: “Findings from Havana embassy phenomenon

Cited by Miller School of Medicine news article “University of Miami Medical Team Reports Acute Findings from the Havana Embassy Phenomenon

Cited by NYT article: “U.S. Diplomats With Mysterious Illness in Cuba Had Inner-Ear Damage, Doctors Say

 

Video Press Conference by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (2018-12-12):

https://www.facebook.com/UMiamiMedicine/videos/367501377152145

https://www.facebook.com/UMiamiMedicine/videos/299479730696421

 

 

All of Cuba Embassy victims (100%) are diagnosed with an inner ear disorder consisting of a vestibular, largely otolithic pathology i.e., a balance abnormality, as well as a specific pattern of cognitive symptoms.

Tests and results:

1. Visual and auditory reaction time. Cervical and ocular Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) metrics.

2. Computerized test of subjective visual vertical (SVV) consisting of aligning a line straight up and down as a test of the function of the utricle and saccule which are the inner ear organs that sense acceleration and orientation of head to gravity. Result: High rate abnormality - 22/25, 88%

Conclusion: Peripheral vestibular pathology affecting the otolithic organs.

 

4th scientific publication 

Neuroimaging Findings in US Government Personnel With Possible Exposure to Directional Phenomena in Havana, Cuba.

Verma, R., Swanson, R. L., Parker, D., Ould Ismail, A. A., Shinohara, R. T., Alappatt, J. A., Doshi, J., Davatzikos, C., Gallaway, M., Duda, D., Chen, H. I., Kim, J. J., Gur, R. C., Wolf, R. L., Grady, M. S., Hampton, S., Diaz-Arrastia, R., & Smith, D. H. (2019).

JAMA, 322(4), 336–347. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2019.9269

(University of Pennsylvania – Medical School)

 

Cited by NYT article “Were U.S. Diplomats Attacked in Cuba? Brain Study Deepens Mystery

 

 

5th scientific publication

Distinctive Convergence Eye Movements in an Acquired Neurosensory Dysfunction.

Balaban, C. D., Szczupak, M., Kiderman, A., Levin, B. E., & Hoffer, M. E. (2020).

Frontiers in Neurology, 11, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2020.00469

(University of Miami – Medical School, University of Pittsburgh)


 

 

Independent brain analysis

One of the China cohort patients, Mark Lenzi, had an independent brain analysis, as reported by CNN in 2019. A « Neuroscientific Report on Quantitative MRI Volumetrics and Diffusion Tensor Imaging » had been made available. His MRI scans from Penn State University and the “Doctors Imaging" center had been analyzed by the "Mindset" consulting group of the "Mind Research Network" (University of New Mexico), which provides forensic expert consultation for court cases.

 

 

Comments on the scientific publications

Officials with Havana Syndrome had an abnormal cVEMP and/or oVEMP. These are "motor-evoked potentials" and specifically  "Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials" (VEMPs). They are used as tests of the vestibular system, including the otolith organs, which is found in the inner ear and controls balance.

The cVEMP is known as P13-N23, while the oVEMP is known as N10-P15. P and N stand for positive and negative peak in the evoked potential waveform (Figure at this link).

The vestibulo-ocular reflex is linked to the oVEMP, a test of the utricle function. The vestibulo-collic reflex is linked to the cVEMP, a test of the saccule function.

When a bumpy road suddenly causes our head to tilt to the right, thereby destabilizing our gaze, two reflexes will be activated by the vestibular system:

🔹 The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), one of the fastest reflexes in the human body, will send commands to eye muscle to move our eyes to the left.

🔹 The vestibulo-collic reflex (VCR) (maybe linked to the word "collar") will send commands to activate or deactivate neck muscle in order to correct the position of the head.

As a result, motor-evoked potentials termed vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) are produced and can be recorded using surface electrodes. Ocular VEMP or o-VEMP are recorded from eye muscle (under the eye), while cervical VEMP or c-VEMP are recorded from cervical (neck) muscle.

These reflexes allow for gaze stabilization and head stabilization.

In the above case, the VEMPs were triggered by head movement. 

They can also be triggered by sound (e.g. when we are startled by a sound), or vibration. This forms the basis of their use in the clinical evaluation of the vestibular system and specifically in the clinical evaluation of the otolith organs, the saccule and the utricle.

Sound is the most common VEMP stimulus modality. Sound triggers muscle excitation which is recorded with electrodes in an electromyography setting (EMG).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

🔹 The cVEMP is known as P13-N23 

The cVEMP, representing the activation of the vestibulo-collic reflex, is a biphasic potential, with a positive peak at approximately 13 ms (P13) and a negative peak at approximately 23 ms (N23). It is produced and recorded from the SCM muscle. “As air-conducted (AC) sound preferentially activates the saccule, cVEMPs evoked by this stimulus can be used as a test of saccular function.”*

🔹 The oVEMP is known as N10-P15

The oVEMP, representing the activation of the vestibulo-ocular reflex, is a biphasic potential with a negative peak at approximately 10 ms (N10) and a positive peak at approximately 15 ms (P15). It is produced and recorded from the inferior oblique muscle (under the eyes). The oVEMP is considered a test of utricular function.

*Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6430081/