The after-effect of noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation on postural control in young people: A randomized controlled trial

Yasuto Inukai; Naofumi Otsuru; Kei Saito; Shota Miyaguchi; Sho Kojima; Hirotake Yokota; Kazuaki Nagasaka; Hideaki Onishi

doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135009

The after-effect of noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation on postural control in young people: A randomized controlled trial

Neurosci Lett. 2020 Jun 11:729:135009. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135009. Epub 2020 Apr 25.

Authors

Yasuto Inukai¹, Naofumi Otsuru², Kei Saito², Shota Miyaguchi², Sho Kojima², Hirotake Yokota², Kazuaki Nagasaka², Hideaki Onishi²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Therapy, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-cho, Kita-ku, Niigata City, Niigata, Japan; Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-cho, Kita-ku, Niigata City, Niigata, Japan. Electronic address: inukai@nuhw.ac.jp.
² Department of Physical Therapy, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-cho, Kita-ku, Niigata City, Niigata, Japan; Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-cho, Kita-ku, Niigata City, Niigata, Japan.

PMID: 32344105
DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135009

Abstract

Noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) enhances the vestibular system. The center of pressure (COP) sway has been shown to decrease during nGVS, but the after-effect of nGVS remains unclear. The aim of this study is to elucidate the after-effect of nGVS on COP sway. We randomly assigned 26 participants to either control (sham stimulation) or nGVS groups. All participants were measured for COP sway while standing with open eyes at baseline, during stimulation, and after stimulation. In the nGVS group, sway path length, mediolateral mean velocity, and anteroposterior mean velocity decreased both during stimulation and after stimulation compared with baseline. Conversely, no significant difference in COP sway was detected in the control group. There was a correlation between the stimulation effect and the after-effect in the nGVS group, indicating that nGVS is effective for people with high baseline COP sway.

Keywords: Center of pressure; Noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation; Vestibular.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Electric Stimulation* / methods
Eye / innervation
Female
Humans
Male
Noise* / prevention & control
Ocular Physiological Phenomena
Postural Balance / physiology*
Posture / physiology*
Standing Position
Vestibule, Labyrinth / physiology
Young Adult