Stochastic resonance therapy induces increased movement related caudate nucleus activity

Whole-body vibration can be used to supplement canonical physical treatment. It is performed while probands stand on a vibrating platform. Therapeutic vibration can be generated as a stochastic vibratory pattern, referred to as stochastic resonance whole-body vibration (SR-WBV). Despite the widespread use of SR-WBV its neurophysiological mechanism is unclear.

A randomized sham-controlled double-blinded trial was performed as a pilot study. The experimental group received 6 cycles of SR-WBV at a frequency of 7 Hz with the SR-Zeptor device, and the sham group received the same treatment at a frequency of 1 Hz. At baseline 1.5 T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed in the resting state, together with a finger/foot tapping test. A second fMRI was carried out after SR-WBV as sham treatment in both groups. Subsequently, a second cycle of SR-WBV was performed as sham or verum with consecutive fMRI, followed by a final fMRI on day 2.

Nineteen healthy volunteers were allocated to the experimental or sham group, respectively.

Analyses of specific effects revealed a significant treatment × time interaction effect (p < 0.05, small-volume corrected (SVC FWE-corrected)) in the left caudate nucleus during intermediate difficulty when comparing pre- vs post-SR-WBV treatment in the verum group. This proof-of-concept study suggests the existence of cerebral effects of SR-WBV.