Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Simultaneous Application of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation during Virtual Reality Exposure
Published on: January 18, 2021
Brain responses to virtual reality visual motion stimulation are affected by neurotic personality traits in patients
Luca Passamonti1,2, Roberta Riccelli3, Francesco Lacquaniti4,5
1Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK.
Objective:
Persistent postural perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a common vestibular disorder of persistent dizziness and unsteadiness, exacerbated by upright posture, self-motion, and exposure to complex or moving visual stimuli. Previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies found dysfunctional activity in the visual-vestibular cortices in patients with PPPD. Clinical studies showed that the anxiety-related personality traits of neuroticism and introversion may predispose individuals to PPPD. However, the effects of these traits on brain function in patients with PPPD versus healthy controls (HCs) have not been studied.
Methods:
To investigate potential differential effects of neuroticism and introversion on functioning of their visuo-vestibular networks, 15 patients with PPPD and 15 HCs matched for demographics and motion sickness susceptibility underwent fMRI during virtual reality simulation of a rollercoaster ride in vertical and horizontal directions.
Results:
Neuroticism positively correlated with activity in the inferior frontal gyrus (IFg), and enhanced connectivity between the IFg and occipital regions in patients with PPPD relative to HCs during vertical versus horizontal motion comparison.
Conclusions:
In patients with PPPD, neuroticism increased the activity and connectivity of neural networks that mediate attention to visual motion cues during vertical motion. This mechanism may mediate visual control of balance in neurotic patients with PPPD.
More Related Videos
08:45Measuring the Kinematics of Daily Living Movements with Motion Capture Systems in Virtual Reality
Published on: April 5, 2018
08:09Multifunctional Setup for Studying Human Motor Control Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Electromyography, Motion Capture, and Virtual Reality
Published on: September 3, 2015
Related Concept Videos
Factors Influencing Attraction VI: Personality Traits
Trait and State Self-Esteem
Polygenic Traits
Multiple Allele Traits
Traits and States
Perceptual Constancy
Size constancy is the recognition that an object remains the same size, even when its image on the retina changes. For instance, a bus is perceived to be large enough to carry people, even if it looks tiny from...