Vestibular Autonomic Interaction During Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation

Vestibular Autonomic Interaction During Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation PDF File

Introduction

• Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) is a technique used to improve a person's balance.
• Small electrodes are placed behind the ears and an electric current is applied.
• How specific is the current to the vestibular system?
• Branches of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) are nearby
• Salivary alpha amylase is a hormonal marker that increases when the transcutaneous vegas nerve has been stimulated
• If it increases with GVS, then the SNS has also been stimulated
• Hypothesis: GVS also stimulates the SNS
• Null hypothesis: It has no effect

Methods

• Sample size: 40
• 2 60-minute sessions separated by at least 3 days at a maximum of 9 days
• During one session GVS will be applied, during the other it will be a sham stimulation
• Saliva will be collected at various times and later assayed for salivary alpha amylase
• A balance test is also done

Results/Conclusions

• The project will begin shortly once it is approved by the IRB
• Either was the results lean, it will still be significant

This chart shows the schedule of the study

Time Relative to Arrival	Activity	Stimulation/Sham	Time Relative to Stimulation
0	Arrive/Orientation		-32
4	Informed Consent		-28
8	Demographics		-24
12	Saliva Sample 1 (Baseline)		-20
16	Balance Test 1 (Baseline)		-16
20	Set up Device		-12
24			-8
28	Calibrate		-4
32	Balance Test 2	On	0
36	Break	Off	4
40	Break	On	8
44	Break	Off	12
48	Break	On	16
52	Break	Off	20
56	Break	On	24
60	Break	Off	28
64	Balance Test 3	On	32
68	Break	Off	36
72	Saliva Sample 2	On	40
76	Break	Off	44
80	Break	On	48
84	Break	Off	52
88	Saliva Sample 3	On	56
92	Break	Off	60
96	Break	On	64
100	Break	Off	68
104	Saliva Sample 4	On	72
108	Remove Device		76
112	Balance Test 4		80
116	Debrief		84
120	Leave		88