No evidence for stochastic resonance effects on standing balance when applying noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation in young healthy adults

• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91808-w
• Publication Date: 2021-06-10T10:02:58Z
• Authors: L. Assländer; L. S. Giboin; M. Gruber; R. Schniepp; M. Wuehr
• Keywords: Galvanic vestibular stimulation; QUIET; Stochastic Resonance

Abstract Noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) at imperceptible levels has been shown to reduce body sway. This reduction was commonly attributed the mechanism of stochastic resonance (SR). However, it never explicitly tested whether nGVS-induced effects on sway consistently follow a SR-like bell-shaped performance curve with maximal reductions in particular range noise intensities. To test this, 21 young healthy participants measured during varying nGVS amplitudes while standing eyes closed 3 conditions (quiet stance, referencing, sinusoidal platform tilts). Presence response dynamics each trial assessed (1) by goodness-of-fit analysis using an established SR-curve model and (2) ratings from human experts. In accordance theory, we found one amplitude most trials (75–95%). only few exhibited curves increasing (10–33%). Instead, measures rather fluctuated randomly across amplitudes. implies that, least adults, are incompatible SR. Thus, previously reported intensities more likely result inherent variations metric or other yet unknown mechanisms.