Galvanic vestibular stimulation

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Galvanic vestibular stimulation is the process of sending specific electric messages to a

, pilot training, and entertainment. Not much is known about galvanic vestibular stimulation, but more scientists are continuing to research the topic.

A patient undergoing GVS noted:

I felt a mysterious, irresistible urge to start walking to the right whenever the researcher turned the switch to the right. I was convinced—mistakenly—that this was the only way to maintain my balance.

The phenomenon is painless but dramatic. Your feet start to move before you know it. I could even remote-control myself by taking the switch into my own hands.^[1]

Notes

References

• Fitzpatrick RC, Day BL (June 2004). "Probing the human vestibular system with galvanic stimulation". J. Appl. Physiol. 96 (6): 2301–16.
  S2CID 8441435
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• Day BL (June 1999). "Galvanic vestibular stimulation: new uses for an old tool". J. Physiol. 517 (3): 631.
  PMID 10358104
  .
• Fitzpatrick R, Burke D, Gandevia SC (July 1994). "Task-dependent reflex responses and movement illusions evoked by galvanic vestibular stimulation in standing humans". J. Physiol. 478 (Pt 2): 363–72.
  PMID 7965852
  .
• Fitzpatrick RC, Marsden J, Lord SR, Day BL (December 2002). "Galvanic vestibular stimulation evokes sensations of body rotation". NeuroReport. 13 (18): 2379–83.
  S2CID 32077072
  .
• Fitzpatrick RC, Wardman DL, Taylor JL (June 1999). "Effects of galvanic vestibular stimulation during human walking". J. Physiol. 517 (Pt 3): 931–9.
  PMID 10358131
  .
• Fitzpatrick RC, Butler JE, Day BL (August 2006). "Resolving head rotation for human bipedalism". Curr. Biol. 16 (15): 1509–14.
  PMID 16890526
  .

External links

• Example video of how GVS works in practice