Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Vestibular System

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.

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Charles Darwin proposed that facial expressions are an evolutionary adaptation for communication. He argued that these expressions are not influenced by culture but are universal across species. For example, a snarling expression with exposed teeth signals a threat in many animals, including humans. Darwin also suggested that displaying an emotion can intensify the feeling. Smiling, for example, could enhance one's sense of happiness. This idea laid the foundation for understanding the role of...

Equilibrium and Balance

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Ophthalmology.

Australian journal of general practice·2026

Same author

Time to re-examine penicillin allergy in Australian general practice.

Australian journal of general practice·2026

Same author

Executive function and social behavior: Causal evidence from loading working memory and inhibitory control.

Journal of experimental psychology. General·2026

Same author

Structural representation of the body differs for glabrous and hairy skin surfaces.

Cognition·2026

Same author

The GRACE video-telehealth project protocol: a mixed-methods study to improve quality, safety and acceptability of video-telehealth in Australian general practice and residential aged care.

BMJ open·2026

Same author

From campus to clinic: The role of 'university of origin' in Australian general practice and rural generalist training participation.

Australian journal of general practice·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

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

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

Published on: August 28, 2019

Galvanic vestibular stimulation modulates the electrophysiological response during face processing.

David Wilkinson¹, Heather J Ferguson, Alan Worley

¹School of Psychology, Keynes College, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK. dtw@kent.ac.uk

Visual Neuroscience

|June 16, 2012

Summary

Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) enhances the N170 brainwave, crucial for visual face processing. This finding suggests vestibular input influences early visual perception and may offer therapeutic benefits for certain neurological conditions.

More Related Videos

Measuring the Influence of Magnetic Vestibular Stimulation on Nystagmus, Self-Motion Perception, and Cognitive Performance in a 7T MRT

Measuring the Influence of Magnetic Vestibular Stimulation on Nystagmus, Self-Motion Perception, and Cognitive Performance in a 7T MRT

Published on: March 3, 2023

Using Eye-tracking to Assess the Relative Importance of Visual and Vestibular Input to Subcortical Motion Processing in the Roll Plane

Using Eye-tracking to Assess the Relative Importance of Visual and Vestibular Input to Subcortical Motion Processing in the Roll Plane

Published on: August 22, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 21, 2026

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

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

Published on: August 28, 2019

Measuring the Influence of Magnetic Vestibular Stimulation on Nystagmus, Self-Motion Perception, and Cognitive Performance in a 7T MRT

Measuring the Influence of Magnetic Vestibular Stimulation on Nystagmus, Self-Motion Perception, and Cognitive Performance in a 7T MRT

Published on: March 3, 2023

Using Eye-tracking to Assess the Relative Importance of Visual and Vestibular Input to Subcortical Motion Processing in the Roll Plane

Using Eye-tracking to Assess the Relative Importance of Visual and Vestibular Input to Subcortical Motion Processing in the Roll Plane

Published on: August 22, 2025

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Science
Sensory Integration

Background:

Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) is known to impact visual judgment speed and accuracy.
The electrophysiological underpinnings of GVS effects on visual processing remain largely unexplored.
The N170 event-related potential is a key marker for early visual structural encoding, particularly in face perception.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effect of GVS on the N170 event-related potential.
To explore the influence of vestibular stimulation on electrophysiological markers of visual processing.
To determine if GVS modulates neural activity associated with face recognition.

Main Methods:

Participants performed a face recognition task (famous vs. nonfamous, upright vs. inverted).
Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) was applied, with a sham condition for comparison.
Electrophysiological data, specifically the N170 potential and delta/theta frequency bands, were recorded and analyzed.

Main Results:

GVS significantly increased the amplitude of the N170 event-related potential compared to sham stimulation.
GVS elevated power spectra in the delta and theta frequency bands, which are linked to face processing.
The observed changes suggest a direct influence of vestibular input on early visual encoding.

Conclusions:

This study provides the first electrophysiological evidence of GVS effects on visual processing.
Vestibular information influences unisensory visual processes involved in object construction.
GVS may hold therapeutic potential for conditions characterized by reduced N170 and delta/theta activity, such as certain neurological diseases.