Short-duration galvanic vestibular stimulation evokes prolonged balance responses

Abstract

The application of galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) evokes distinct responses in lower limb muscles involved in the control of balance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the balance and lower limb muscle responses to short-duration GVS and to determine whether these responses are modulated by small changes in center of gravity (CoG) and baseline muscle activity occurring during quiet standing. Twelve subjects stood quietly on a force plate with their feet together and were instructed to look straight ahead. One thousand twenty-four GVS stimuli (4 mA, 20-ms pulses) were delivered bilaterally to the mastoid processes in a bipolar, binaural configuration. Bilateral surface electromyography (EMG) from soleus (Sol) and tibialis anterior (TA) and ground reaction forces were recorded. EMG and force responses were trigger averaged at the onset of the GVS pulse. Short-duration GVS applied during quiet standing with the head facing forward evoked characteristic balance responses and biphasic modulation of all muscles with the same polarity for ipsilateral Sol and TA. The amplitude of the GVS-evoked muscle responses was modulated by both the estimated position of the subject's CoG and the background activation of the recorded muscle. Muscle-dependent modulations of the GVS-evoked muscle responses were observed: the Sol responses decreased, while the TA responses increased when the CoG position shifted toward the heels. The well-defined balance responses evoked by short-duration GVS are important to acknowledge when studying the vestibulo-motor responses in healthy subjects and patient populations.