Optimizing noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) for postural control: methodological considerations when individualizing the signal for people with bilateral vestibulopathy
An established aspect of noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) is tuning the nGVS signal to optimize stability on an individual basis. However, conventional tuning methods are strongly influenced by historical approaches and fail to integrate contemporary research findings. We outline a proce...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neurology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1609123/full |
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| author | Ruth McLaren Ruth McLaren Paul F. Smith Paul F. Smith Rachael L. Taylor Rachael L. Taylor Denise Taylor Denise Taylor Denise Taylor |
| author_facet | Ruth McLaren Ruth McLaren Paul F. Smith Paul F. Smith Rachael L. Taylor Rachael L. Taylor Denise Taylor Denise Taylor Denise Taylor |
| author_sort | Ruth McLaren |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | An established aspect of noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) is tuning the nGVS signal to optimize stability on an individual basis. However, conventional tuning methods are strongly influenced by historical approaches and fail to integrate contemporary research findings. We outline a process used to integrate current physiological and neuroscientific insights into a robust method for personalizing nGVS signals to improve stability. We argue that an optimization protocol for a neuromodulatory nGVS signal designed to facilitate postural control needs to include: (1) A task that is relevant to the population, and which can be modified to give an appropriate level of challenge at an individual level; (2) Elements that can be reliably measured and are responsive to changes in postural control; (3) Well controlled and defined signal parameters; (4) Potential to be translated into the clinical setting. Questioning conventional methods enabled us to develop an alternative nGVS optimization assessment to enhance postural control in people with bilateral vestibulopathy. Refining this optimization assessment represents a crucial step in developing individualized nGVS interventions. The fundamental principles applied to develop our method can be adapted to other neuromodulatory stimuli across different impairments and populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-54bcc2be1abb4c5781c948641b0ecdfb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-2295 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Neurology |
| spelling | doaj-art-54bcc2be1abb4c5781c948641b0ecdfb2025-08-20T03:47:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-06-011610.3389/fneur.2025.16091231609123Optimizing noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) for postural control: methodological considerations when individualizing the signal for people with bilateral vestibulopathyRuth McLaren0Ruth McLaren1Paul F. Smith2Paul F. Smith3Rachael L. Taylor4Rachael L. Taylor5Denise Taylor6Denise Taylor7Denise Taylor8School of Clinical Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New ZealandEisdell Moore Centre for Hearing and Balance Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandEisdell Moore Centre for Hearing and Balance Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, The Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandEisdell Moore Centre for Hearing and Balance Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandDepartment of Physiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandSchool of Clinical Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New ZealandEisdell Moore Centre for Hearing and Balance Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandNew Zealand Dizziness and Balance Centre, Auckland, New ZealandAn established aspect of noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) is tuning the nGVS signal to optimize stability on an individual basis. However, conventional tuning methods are strongly influenced by historical approaches and fail to integrate contemporary research findings. We outline a process used to integrate current physiological and neuroscientific insights into a robust method for personalizing nGVS signals to improve stability. We argue that an optimization protocol for a neuromodulatory nGVS signal designed to facilitate postural control needs to include: (1) A task that is relevant to the population, and which can be modified to give an appropriate level of challenge at an individual level; (2) Elements that can be reliably measured and are responsive to changes in postural control; (3) Well controlled and defined signal parameters; (4) Potential to be translated into the clinical setting. Questioning conventional methods enabled us to develop an alternative nGVS optimization assessment to enhance postural control in people with bilateral vestibulopathy. Refining this optimization assessment represents a crucial step in developing individualized nGVS interventions. The fundamental principles applied to develop our method can be adapted to other neuromodulatory stimuli across different impairments and populations.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1609123/fullneuromodulationgalvanic vestibular stimulationnGVSvestibularposturebalance |
| spellingShingle | Ruth McLaren Ruth McLaren Paul F. Smith Paul F. Smith Rachael L. Taylor Rachael L. Taylor Denise Taylor Denise Taylor Denise Taylor Optimizing noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) for postural control: methodological considerations when individualizing the signal for people with bilateral vestibulopathy Frontiers in Neurology neuromodulation galvanic vestibular stimulation nGVS vestibular posture balance |
| title | Optimizing noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) for postural control: methodological considerations when individualizing the signal for people with bilateral vestibulopathy |
| title_full | Optimizing noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) for postural control: methodological considerations when individualizing the signal for people with bilateral vestibulopathy |
| title_fullStr | Optimizing noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) for postural control: methodological considerations when individualizing the signal for people with bilateral vestibulopathy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimizing noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) for postural control: methodological considerations when individualizing the signal for people with bilateral vestibulopathy |
| title_short | Optimizing noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) for postural control: methodological considerations when individualizing the signal for people with bilateral vestibulopathy |
| title_sort | optimizing noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation ngvs for postural control methodological considerations when individualizing the signal for people with bilateral vestibulopathy |
| topic | neuromodulation galvanic vestibular stimulation nGVS vestibular posture balance |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1609123/full |
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