scholarly journals Galvanic vestibular stimulation: a novel modulatory countermeasure for vestibular-associated movement disorders

2014 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos V. Rizzo-Sierra ◽  
Alexander Gonzalez-Castaño ◽  
Fidias E. Leon-Sarmiento
Keyword(s):  
Motion Sickness ◽  
Movement Disorders ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Sensory Information ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Human Locomotion ◽  
Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Spatial Disorientation ◽  
Neural Transmission ◽  
Space Sickness

Motion sickness or kinetosis is the result of the abnormal neural output originated by visual, proprioceptive and vestibular mismatch, which reverses once the dysfunctional sensory information becomes coherent. The space adaptation syndrome or space sickness relates to motion sickness; it is considered to be due to yaw, pith, and roll coordinates mismatch. Several behavioural and pharmacological measures have been proposed to control these vestibular-associated movement disorders with no success. Galvanic vestibular stimulation has the potential of up-regulating disturbed sensory-motor mismatch originated by kinetosis and space sickness by modulating the GABA-related ion channels neural transmission in the inner ear. It improves the signal-to-noise ratio of the afferent proprioceptive volleys, which would ultimately modulate the motor output restoring the disordered gait, balance and human locomotion due to kinetosis, as well as the spatial disorientation generated by gravity transition.

scholarly journals The influence of scopolamine on motor control and attentional processes

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Bestaven ◽  
Charline Kambrun ◽  
Dominique Guehl ◽  
Jean-René Cazalets ◽  
Etienne Guillaud
Keyword(s):  
Motor Control ◽  
Motion Sickness ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Vestibular Nucleus ◽  
Parabolic Flight ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Balance Test ◽  
Attentional Processes ◽  
Perception Of Verticality

Background:Motion sickness may be caused by a sensory conflict between the visual and the vestibular systems. Scopolamine, known to be the most effective therapy to control the vegetative symptoms of motion sickness, acts on the vestibular nucleus and potentially the vestibulospinal pathway, which may affect balance and motor tasks requiring both attentional process and motor balance. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of scopolamine on motor control and attentional processes.Methods:Seven subjects were evaluated on four different tasks before and after a subcutaneous injection of scopolamine (0.2 mg): a one-minute balance test, a subjective visual vertical test, a pointing task and a galvanic vestibular stimulation with EMG recordings.Results:The results showed that the reaction time and the movement duration were not modified after the injection of scopolamine. However, there was an increase in the center of pressure displacement during the balance test, a decrease in EMG muscle response after galvanic vestibular stimulation and an alteration in the perception of verticality.Discussion:These results confirm that low doses of scopolamine such as those prescribed to avoid motion sickness have no effect on attentional processes, but that it is essential to consider the responsiveness of each subject. However, scopolamine did affect postural control and the perception of verticality. In conclusion, the use of scopolamine to prevent motion sickness must be considered carefully because it could increase imbalances in situations when individuals are already at risk of falling (e.g., sailing, parabolic flight).

Against the leans: Overcoming spatial disorientation through galvanic vestibular stimulation

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 1421-1424
Author(s):  
Sungho Kim ◽  
May Jorella Lazaro ◽  
Hyunki Jung ◽  
Myung Hwan Yun ◽  
Yohan Kang
Keyword(s):  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Flight Simulation ◽  
Roll Angle ◽  
Angle Error ◽  
Spatial Disorientation ◽  
Safety Research ◽  
Scale Scores ◽  
Phase Data ◽  
Roll Out

Leans illusion is a type of Spatial Disorientation (SD) that pilots often experience which can adversely affect flight performance. For pilots’ flight safety, research on how to effectively overcome SD such as leans illusion is important. The purpose of this study is to identify the overcoming effect of Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) technology on leans illusion. Twenty-one Air Force pilots participated in a flight simulation experiment where leans illusion was induced through a specialized SD simulator. In the with-GVS condition, GVS was given during the roll-out phase. Data was analyzed using roll angle error and subjective SD scales by two conditions (with-GVS, without-GVS). Results showed that both the roll angle error and the subjective SD scale scores were found to be lower in the with-GVS condition than in the without-GVS condition. This study suggests that the use of GVS technology can potentially contribute in overcoming leans illusion.

scholarly journals Postural responses of galvanic vestibular stimulation: comparison between groups of older adults and young people

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Regiane Luz Carvalho ◽  
Matheus Machado Gomes ◽  
Laura Ferreira de Rezende Franco ◽  
Daniela Cristina Carvalho de Abreu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Sensory Information ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Intensity Level ◽  
Motor Strategy ◽  
Postural Responses

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effect of vestibular manipulation on the postural sway and muscle activation of younger and older adults. Methods: The study analyzed the effects of three intensity levels of galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) (0.3; 0.6 and 1m) on the pattern of muscle activity and center of pressure (CP) displacements of 12 older adults (EG) and 12 young adults (CG) while maintaining their balance on a stable surface, with no vision. Results: The EG showed a positive correlation between CP displacement and muscle activity and GVS intensity. On the other hand, the magnitude of postural response in the EG was not modulated in accordance with GVS intensities. Additionally, during the highest GVS intensity level (1 mA) greater muscle activity was used to increase stiffness, decrease the amplitude of oscillation and ensure stability. This unusual response characterizes a pattern of co-activation and is perhaps a safety mechanism to ensure stability. Conclusion: The EG individuals were not able to select the appropriate motor strategy to efficiently compensate the effects of GVS. This unusual strategy reflects deficits in the vestibular system of older adults, a fact which negatively interferes with their ability to reevaluate sensory information.

scholarly journals Effect of noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation on dynamic posture sway under visual deprivation in patients with bilateral vestibular hypofunction

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Po-Yin Chen ◽  
Ying-Chun Jheng ◽  
Chien-Chih Wang ◽  
Shih-En Huang ◽  
Ting-Hua Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Light Exposure ◽  
Light Condition ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Lateral Deviation ◽  
Clinical Trial Registration ◽  
Vestibular Hypofunction ◽  
Dark Conditions ◽  
Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction

AbstractA single-blind study to investigate the effects of noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) in straight walking and 2 Hz head yaw walking for healthy and bilateral vestibular hypofunction (BVH) participants in light and dark conditions. The optimal stimulation intensity for each participant was determined by calculating standing stability on a force plate while randomly applying six graded nGVS intensities (0–1000 µA). The chest–pelvic (C/P) ratio and lateral deviation of the center of mass (COM) were measured by motion capture during straight and 2 Hz head yaw walking in light and dark conditions. Participants were blinded to nGVS served randomly and imperceivably. Ten BVH patients and 16 healthy participants completed all trials. In the light condition, the COM lateral deviation significantly decreased only in straight walking (p = 0.037) with nGVS for the BVH. In the dark condition, both healthy (p = 0.026) and BVH (p = 0.017) exhibited decreased lateral deviation during nGVS. The C/P ratio decreased significantly in BVH for 2 Hz head yaw walking with nGVS (p = 0.005) in light conditions. This study demonstrated that nGVS effectively reduced walking deviations, especially in visual deprived condition for the BVH. Applying nGVS with different head rotation frequencies and light exposure levels may accelerate the rehabilitation process for patients with BVH.Clinical Trial Registration This clinical trial was prospectively registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov with the Unique identifier: NCT03554941. Date of registration: (13/06/2018).

scholarly journals The effect of water immersion on vection in virtual reality

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Géraldine Fauville ◽  
Anna C. M. Queiroz ◽  
Erika S. Woolsey ◽  
Jonathan W. Kelly ◽  
Jeremy N. Bailenson
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Motion Sickness ◽  
Water Immersion ◽  
Sensory Information ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Visually Induced Motion Sickness ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Induced Motion ◽  
Ground Condition ◽  
The Impact

AbstractResearch about vection (illusory self-motion) has investigated a wide range of sensory cues and employed various methods and equipment, including use of virtual reality (VR). However, there is currently no research in the field of vection on the impact of floating in water while experiencing VR. Aquatic immersion presents a new and interesting method to potentially enhance vection by reducing conflicting sensory information that is usually experienced when standing or sitting on a stable surface. This study compares vection, visually induced motion sickness, and presence among participants experiencing VR while standing on the ground or floating in water. Results show that vection was significantly enhanced for the participants in the Water condition, whose judgments of self-displacement were larger than those of participants in the Ground condition. No differences in visually induced motion sickness or presence were found between conditions. We discuss the implication of this new type of VR experience for the fields of VR and vection while also discussing future research questions that emerge from our findings.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document