Journal of Neurophysiology, Vol 73, Issue 2 896-901, Copyright © 1995 by APS

ARTICLES

Effect of galvanic vestibular stimulation on human postural responses during support surface translations

J. T. Inglis, C. L. Shupert, F. Hlavacka and F. B. Horak
R. S. Dow Neurological Sciences Institute, Portland, Oregon 97209, USA.

1. We investigated the role of the vestibular system in postural control by combining galvanic vestibular stimulation (0.2-0.5 mA) with platform translations in standing subjects. Vestibular stimulation delivered 500 ms before and continuously during the platform translation produced little change in the earliest center of pressure (COP) and center of mass (COM) movements in response to platform translations, but resulted in large changes during the execution of the postural movement and in the final equilibrium position. 2. Vestibular stimulation produced anterior or posterior shifts in the position of COP and COM, depending on the polarity of the galvanic current. These shifts were larger during platform translations than during quiet stance. The peak of these shifts in COP and COM occurred at 1.5-2.5 s after the onset of platform translation, and increased in magnitude with increasing platform velocity. The final equilibrium positions of COP and COM were also shifted, but these shifts were smaller and not dependent on platform velocity. 3. These results imply that a tonic step of galvanic current to the vestibular system can change the final equilibrium position for an automatic postural response. Furthermore, these results indicate that the vestibular system may play a larger role in interpreting sensory reafference during postural movements, and especially during fast postural movements, than in controlling quiet stance. Finally, these results indicate that the vestibular system does not play a critical role in triggering the earliest postural responses, but it may be critical in establishing an internal reference for verticality.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. L. Bunday and A. M. Bronstein Visuo-vestibular Influences on the Moving Platform Locomotor Aftereffect J Neurophysiol, March 1, 2008; 99(3): 1354 - 1365. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Cenciarini and R. J. Peterka Stimulus-Dependent Changes in the Vestibular Contribution to Human Postural Control J Neurophysiol, May 1, 2006; 95(5): 2733 - 2750. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Cathers, B. L Day, and R. C Fitzpatrick Otolith and canal reflexes in human standing J. Physiol., February 15, 2005; 563(1): 229 - 234. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. R. Bent, J. T. Inglis, and B. J. McFadyen When is Vestibular Information Important During Walking? J Neurophysiol, September 1, 2004; 92(3): 1269 - 1275. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. C. Fitzpatrick and B. L. Day Probing the human vestibular system with galvanic stimulation J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2004; 96(6): 2301 - 2316. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Jahn, A. Naessl, E. Schneider, M. Strupp, T. Brandt, and M. Dieterich Inverse U-shaped curve for age dependency of torsional eye movement responses to galvanic vestibular stimulation Brain, July 1, 2003; 126(7): 1579 - 1589. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Schneider, S. Glasauer, and M. Dieterich Comparison of Human Ocular Torsion Patterns During Natural and Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation J Neurophysiol, April 1, 2002; 87(4): 2064 - 2073. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. B. Horak and F. Hlavacka Somatosensory Loss Increases Vestibulospinal Sensitivity J Neurophysiol, August 1, 2001; 86(2): 575 - 585. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Bense, T. Stephan, T. A. Yousry, T. Brandt, and M. Dieterich Multisensory Cortical Signal Increases and Decreases During Vestibular Galvanic Stimulation (fMRI) J Neurophysiol, February 1, 2001; 85(2): 886 - 899. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]