Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Equilibrium and Balance01:15

Equilibrium and Balance

The inner ear assumes dual functionalities of auditory perception and equilibrium maintenance. The vestibule is the organ responsible for balance. This organ contains mechanoreceptors, specifically hair cells, endowed with stereocilia, which aid in deciphering information regarding the position and motion of our heads. Two intrinsic components, the utricle and saccule, help perceive head position, while the semicircular canals track head movement. Neurological messages initiated in the...
The Vestibular System01:29

The Vestibular System

The vestibular system is a set of inner ear structures that provide a sense of balance and spatial orientation. This system is comprised of structures within the labyrinth of the inner ear, including the cochlea and two otolith organs—the utricle and saccule. The labyrinth also contains three semicircular canals—superior, posterior, and horizontal—that are oriented on different planes.
Muscle Stimulation Frequency01:22

Muscle Stimulation Frequency

The contraction strength of muscles is regulated by motor neurons, which modulate the frequency of action potentials dispatched to the motor units based on the body's requirements. This process of varying the muscle stimulation frequency allows muscles to contract with a force that is precisely tailored to the needs of the moment, whether lifting a feather or a heavy box.
Wave summation
At low firing rates, motor neurons induce individual twitch contractions in muscle fibers. These twitches...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of a Spanish-language version of the Vestibular Disorders Activities of Daily Living Scale (VADL-ES).

Journal of vestibular research : equilibrium & orientation·2026
Same author

Balance Disorders in Young and Middle-Aged Adults: NHANES, 2001-2004 and 2021-2023.

The Laryngoscope·2026
Same author

Customizing galvanic vestibular stimulation amplitude: an objective technique using sway indices to account for individual sensitivity.

Experimental brain research·2026
Same author

Brain displacement and nonlinear deformation following human spaceflight.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Editorial: Impact of vestibular dysfunction studies on space flight health challenges.

Frontiers in neurology·2026
Same author

Development of head-trunk coordination measures for assessing sensorimotor function in laboratory and natural settings using wearable sensors.

Scientific reports·2025
Same journal

Molecular links between reelin downregulation, topoisomerase IIβ alterations, and proteins involved in Alzheimer pathology in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line.

Experimental brain research·2026
Same journal

Motor cortex excitability during spine shape-judgment in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a TMS motor evoked potential study.

Experimental brain research·2026
Same journal

Trajectory dynamics and endpoint accuracy in targeted ballistic contractions.

Experimental brain research·2026
Same journal

Exploring Sevoflurane promotes hippocampal neuron mitophagy in elderly postoperative cognitive dysfunction by HSP90AA1 based on network pharmacology.

Experimental brain research·2026
Same journal

Loading modulates monosynaptic transmission from spindle primary afferents to motoneurons in humans.

Experimental brain research·2026
Same journal

Energy-dependent cortical injury thresholds in high-frequency transcortical electrical stimulation: a biophysical study in a rat model.

Experimental brain research·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Stochastic Noise Application for the Assessment of Medial Vestibular Nucleus Neuron Sensitivity In Vitro
06:22

Stochastic Noise Application for the Assessment of Medial Vestibular Nucleus Neuron Sensitivity In Vitro

Published on: August 28, 2019

Improving balance function using vestibular stochastic resonance: optimizing stimulus characteristics.

Ajitkumar P Mulavara1, Matthew J Fiedler, Igor S Kofman

  • 1Universities Space Research Association, 2101 NASA Parkway, Mail Code: SK/B272, Houston, TX 77058, USA. ajitkumar.p.mulavara@nasa.gov

Experimental Brain Research
|March 29, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Stochastic resonance (SR) electrical stimulation of the vestibular organs improved balance in healthy adults by 5-26%. This non-invasive technique shows promise for enhancing posture and locomotion in individuals with balance impairments.

More Related Videos

Using Unidirectional Rotations to Improve Vestibular System Asymmetry in Patients with Vestibular Dysfunction
05:02

Using Unidirectional Rotations to Improve Vestibular System Asymmetry in Patients with Vestibular Dysfunction

Published on: August 30, 2019

A Vibrotactile Feedback Device for Seated Balance Assessment and Training
09:13

A Vibrotactile Feedback Device for Seated Balance Assessment and Training

Published on: January 20, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Stochastic Noise Application for the Assessment of Medial Vestibular Nucleus Neuron Sensitivity In Vitro
06:22

Stochastic Noise Application for the Assessment of Medial Vestibular Nucleus Neuron Sensitivity In Vitro

Published on: August 28, 2019

Using Unidirectional Rotations to Improve Vestibular System Asymmetry in Patients with Vestibular Dysfunction
05:02

Using Unidirectional Rotations to Improve Vestibular System Asymmetry in Patients with Vestibular Dysfunction

Published on: August 30, 2019

A Vibrotactile Feedback Device for Seated Balance Assessment and Training
09:13

A Vibrotactile Feedback Device for Seated Balance Assessment and Training

Published on: January 20, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • Stochastic resonance (SR) optimizes non-linear system responses to weak signals with noise.
  • Vestibular electrical stimulation has previously improved balance and ocular reflexes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of stochastic resonance (SR) using vestibular electrical stimulation for improving balance in healthy adults.
  • To determine optimal stimulus parameters for SR-induced balance improvement.

Main Methods:

  • 15 healthy subjects stood with eyes closed on a compliant surface.
  • Binaural bipolar stochastic electrical stimulation of vestibular organs (1-2 Hz and 0-30 Hz, 0-700 μA) was applied.
  • Head, trunk, and whole-body stability were measured using inertial sensors and a force plate.

Main Results:

  • Low-level vestibular stimulation improved balance performance by 5-26% in normal healthy subjects.
  • Optimal stimulus amplitudes were predominantly between ±100 to ±400 μA.
  • 8/15 and 10/15 subjects responded to 1-2 Hz and 0-30 Hz stimulation, respectively, with no significant difference in improvement between frequencies.

Conclusions:

  • Vestibular stochastic resonance stimulation effectively enhances balance control in healthy individuals.
  • This non-invasive method has potential applications as a training tool or assistive device for balance and locomotion deficits.