Menrva Research Group, Schools of Mechatronic Systems Engineering and Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Metro Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Sensorimotor Neuroscience Lab, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
Neuropsychologia. 2021 Feb 12;152:107751. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107751. Epub 2021 Jan 9.
Noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) is an emerging non-invasive brain stimulation technique. It involves applying alternating currents of different frequencies and amplitudes presented in a random, or noisy, manner through electrodes on the mastoid bones behind the ears. Because it directly activates vestibular hair cells and afferents and has an indirect effect on a variety of brain regions, it has the potential to impact many different functions. The objective of this review is twofold: (1) to review how nGVS affects motor, sensory, and cognitive performance in healthy adults; and (2) to discuss potential clinical applications of nGVS. First, we introduce the technique. We then describe the regions receiving and processing vestibular information. Next, we discuss the effects of nGVS on motor, sensory, and cognitive function in healthy adults. Subsequently, we outline its potential clinical applications. Finally, we highlight other electrical stimulation technologies and discuss why nGVS offers an alternative or complementary approach. Overall, nGVS appears promising for optimizing human performance and as an assistive technology, though further research is required.
嘈杂电前庭刺激（nGVS）是一种新兴的非侵入性脑刺激技术。它涉及通过耳朵后面的乳突骨上的电极以随机（嘈杂）的方式施加不同频率和幅度的交流电。因为它直接激活前庭毛细胞和传入神经，并且对各种大脑区域有间接影响，所以它有可能影响许多不同的功能。本综述的目的有两个：（1）综述 nGVS 如何影响健康成年人的运动、感觉和认知表现；（2）讨论 nGVS 的潜在临床应用。首先，我们介绍该技术。然后，我们描述接收和处理前庭信息的区域。接下来，我们讨论 nGVS 对健康成年人运动、感觉和认知功能的影响。随后，我们概述了其潜在的临床应用。最后，我们强调了其他电刺激技术，并讨论了为什么 nGVS 提供了一种替代或补充方法。总的来说，nGVS 似乎有希望优化人类表现并作为辅助技术，但需要进一步的研究。
