Low-level stochastic vestibular stimulation (SVS) has been associated with improved postural
res... more Low-level stochastic vestibular stimulation (SVS) has been associated with improved postural
responses in the medio-lateral (ML) direction, but its effect in improving balance function
in both the ML and anterior-posterior (AP) directions has not been studied. In this series
of studies, the efficacy of applying low amplitude SVS in 0–30 Hz range between the mastoids
in the ML direction on improving cross-planar balance function was investigated.
Forty-five (45) subjects stood on a compliant surface with their eyes closed and were
instructed to maintain a stable upright stance. Measures of stability of the head, trunk, and
whole body were quantified in ML, AP and combined APML directions. Results show that
binaural bipolar SVS given in the ML direction significantly improved balance performance
with the peak of optimal stimulus amplitude predominantly in the range of 100–500 μA for all
the three directions, exhibiting stochastic resonance (SR) phenomenon. Objective perceptual
and body motion thresholds as estimates of internal noise while subjects sat on a chair
with their eyes closed and were given 1 Hz bipolar binaural sinusoidal electrical stimuli were
also measured. In general, there was no significant difference between estimates of perceptual
and body motion thresholds. The average optimal SVS amplitude that improved balance
performance (peak SVS amplitude normalized to perceptual threshold) was estimated
to be 46% in ML, 53% in AP, and 50% in APML directions. A miniature patch-type SVS
device may be useful to improve balance function in people with disabilities due to aging,
Parkinson’s disease or in astronauts returning from long-duration space flight.
Low levels of bipolar binaural white noise based imperceptible stochastic electrical stimulation ... more Low levels of bipolar binaural white noise based imperceptible stochastic electrical stimulation to the vestibular system (stochastic vestibular stimulation, SVS) have been shown to improve stability during balance tasks in normal, healthy subjects by facilitating enhanced information transfer using stochastic resonance (SR) principles. We hypothesize that detection of time-critical sub-threshold sensory signals using low levels of bipolar binaural SVS based on SR principles will help improve their stability of walking during support surface perturbations. In the current study 13 healthy subjects were exposed to short continuous support surface perturbations for 60 seconds while walking on a treadmill and simultaneously viewing perceptually matched linear optic flow. Low levels of bipolar binaural white noise based SVS were applied to the vestibular organs. Multiple trials of the treadmill locomotion test were performed with stimulation current levels varying in the range of 0-1500 µA, randomized across trials. The results show that subjects significantly improved their locomotion balance performance at an optimal level of stimulation with peak amplitude predominantly in the range of 100-500 µA consistent with the SR phenomenon. Additionally, objective perceptual motion thresholds were measured separately as estimates of internal noise while subjects sat on a chair with their eyes closed and received 1 Hz bipolar binaural sinusoidal electrical stimuli. The optimal improvement in walking stability was achieved on average with peak stimulation amplitudes of approximately 35% of perceptual motion threshold. This study shows the effectiveness of using low imperceptible levels of SVS to improve dynamic stability during walking on a laterally oscillating treadmill via the SR phenomenon.
Low-level stochastic vestibular stimulation (SVS) has been associated with improved postural
res... more Low-level stochastic vestibular stimulation (SVS) has been associated with improved postural
responses in the medio-lateral (ML) direction, but its effect in improving balance function
in both the ML and anterior-posterior (AP) directions has not been studied. In this series
of studies, the efficacy of applying low amplitude SVS in 0–30 Hz range between the mastoids
in the ML direction on improving cross-planar balance function was investigated.
Forty-five (45) subjects stood on a compliant surface with their eyes closed and were
instructed to maintain a stable upright stance. Measures of stability of the head, trunk, and
whole body were quantified in ML, AP and combined APML directions. Results show that
binaural bipolar SVS given in the ML direction significantly improved balance performance
with the peak of optimal stimulus amplitude predominantly in the range of 100–500 μA for all
the three directions, exhibiting stochastic resonance (SR) phenomenon. Objective perceptual
and body motion thresholds as estimates of internal noise while subjects sat on a chair
with their eyes closed and were given 1 Hz bipolar binaural sinusoidal electrical stimuli were
also measured. In general, there was no significant difference between estimates of perceptual
and body motion thresholds. The average optimal SVS amplitude that improved balance
performance (peak SVS amplitude normalized to perceptual threshold) was estimated
to be 46% in ML, 53% in AP, and 50% in APML directions. A miniature patch-type SVS
device may be useful to improve balance function in people with disabilities due to aging,
Parkinson’s disease or in astronauts returning from long-duration space flight.
Low levels of bipolar binaural white noise based imperceptible stochastic electrical stimulation ... more Low levels of bipolar binaural white noise based imperceptible stochastic electrical stimulation to the vestibular system (stochastic vestibular stimulation, SVS) have been shown to improve stability during balance tasks in normal, healthy subjects by facilitating enhanced information transfer using stochastic resonance (SR) principles. We hypothesize that detection of time-critical sub-threshold sensory signals using low levels of bipolar binaural SVS based on SR principles will help improve their stability of walking during support surface perturbations. In the current study 13 healthy subjects were exposed to short continuous support surface perturbations for 60 seconds while walking on a treadmill and simultaneously viewing perceptually matched linear optic flow. Low levels of bipolar binaural white noise based SVS were applied to the vestibular organs. Multiple trials of the treadmill locomotion test were performed with stimulation current levels varying in the range of 0-1500 µA, randomized across trials. The results show that subjects significantly improved their locomotion balance performance at an optimal level of stimulation with peak amplitude predominantly in the range of 100-500 µA consistent with the SR phenomenon. Additionally, objective perceptual motion thresholds were measured separately as estimates of internal noise while subjects sat on a chair with their eyes closed and received 1 Hz bipolar binaural sinusoidal electrical stimuli. The optimal improvement in walking stability was achieved on average with peak stimulation amplitudes of approximately 35% of perceptual motion threshold. This study shows the effectiveness of using low imperceptible levels of SVS to improve dynamic stability during walking on a laterally oscillating treadmill via the SR phenomenon.
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Papers by Yiri DeDios
responses in the medio-lateral (ML) direction, but its effect in improving balance function
in both the ML and anterior-posterior (AP) directions has not been studied. In this series
of studies, the efficacy of applying low amplitude SVS in 0–30 Hz range between the mastoids
in the ML direction on improving cross-planar balance function was investigated.
Forty-five (45) subjects stood on a compliant surface with their eyes closed and were
instructed to maintain a stable upright stance. Measures of stability of the head, trunk, and
whole body were quantified in ML, AP and combined APML directions. Results show that
binaural bipolar SVS given in the ML direction significantly improved balance performance
with the peak of optimal stimulus amplitude predominantly in the range of 100–500 μA for all
the three directions, exhibiting stochastic resonance (SR) phenomenon. Objective perceptual
and body motion thresholds as estimates of internal noise while subjects sat on a chair
with their eyes closed and were given 1 Hz bipolar binaural sinusoidal electrical stimuli were
also measured. In general, there was no significant difference between estimates of perceptual
and body motion thresholds. The average optimal SVS amplitude that improved balance
performance (peak SVS amplitude normalized to perceptual threshold) was estimated
to be 46% in ML, 53% in AP, and 50% in APML directions. A miniature patch-type SVS
device may be useful to improve balance function in people with disabilities due to aging,
Parkinson’s disease or in astronauts returning from long-duration space flight.
responses in the medio-lateral (ML) direction, but its effect in improving balance function
in both the ML and anterior-posterior (AP) directions has not been studied. In this series
of studies, the efficacy of applying low amplitude SVS in 0–30 Hz range between the mastoids
in the ML direction on improving cross-planar balance function was investigated.
Forty-five (45) subjects stood on a compliant surface with their eyes closed and were
instructed to maintain a stable upright stance. Measures of stability of the head, trunk, and
whole body were quantified in ML, AP and combined APML directions. Results show that
binaural bipolar SVS given in the ML direction significantly improved balance performance
with the peak of optimal stimulus amplitude predominantly in the range of 100–500 μA for all
the three directions, exhibiting stochastic resonance (SR) phenomenon. Objective perceptual
and body motion thresholds as estimates of internal noise while subjects sat on a chair
with their eyes closed and were given 1 Hz bipolar binaural sinusoidal electrical stimuli were
also measured. In general, there was no significant difference between estimates of perceptual
and body motion thresholds. The average optimal SVS amplitude that improved balance
performance (peak SVS amplitude normalized to perceptual threshold) was estimated
to be 46% in ML, 53% in AP, and 50% in APML directions. A miniature patch-type SVS
device may be useful to improve balance function in people with disabilities due to aging,
Parkinson’s disease or in astronauts returning from long-duration space flight.