Abstract
What Does Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation Actually Activate?
Highlights
Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) has been used to activate fibers of the vestibular nerve in humans and experimental animals by applying 0.1–4 mA DC currents through the skin over the mastoid processes
When sGVS is applied to anesthetized rats, it can induce sudden decreases in blood pressure and heart rate that resemble human vasovagal syncope (Cohen et al, 2011)
Similar sustained drops in blood pressure have been shown in alert and anesthetized rats after linear acceleration (Zhu et al, 2007). sGVS evokes frequencydependent postural sway in standing subjects, further supporting the idea that the stimulus primarily activates the otolith system (Lau et al, 2003)
Summary
Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) has been used to activate fibers of the vestibular nerve in humans and experimental animals by applying 0.1–4 mA DC currents through the skin over the mastoid processes (for reviews, see Fitzpatrick and Day, 2004; Curthoys, 2009). This stimulation excites a wide range of central vestibular neurons, including those related to both the semicircular canals and the otolith organs (Wilson et al, 1979; Peterson et al, 1980; Ezure et al, 1983; Courjon et al, 1987).
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