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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.

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 15, 2025

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

Quantifying virtual self-motion sensations induced by galvanic vestibular stimulation.

M Gallagher^1,2, F Romano³, C J Bockisch^3,4,5,6,7

¹School of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.

Journal of Vestibular Research : Equilibrium & Orientation

|January 2, 2023

Summary

Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) creates a virtual roll sensation. This study quantifies that perception, finding specific velocity estimates for different GVS intensities, crucial for VR and sensory substitution applications.

Keywords:

Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation Vestibular system natural vestibular stimulation vestibular perception

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Published on: August 28, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Vestibular System Research
Human Perception

Background:

The vestibular system estimates self-motion in 3D space.
Binaural-bipolar square-wave Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) artificially induces a virtual roll rotation sensation.
Quantifying the perceived GVS-induced rotation vector remains an area for further research.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantify the perceived virtual roll rotation vector elicited by GVS.
To utilize a psychophysical approach on a 3D turntable for precise measurement.
To establish a relationship between GVS intensity and perceived rotational velocity.

Main Methods:

Participants were placed supine on a 3D turntable, receiving GVS or sham stimulation during rotation.
GVS amplitudes and intensities were systematically manipulated.
A psychophysical adaptive staircase procedure identified the roll velocity that cancelled the perceived GVS sensation.

Main Results:

Participants perceived virtual roll rotation velocities of approximately 2°/s for 1mA GVS and 6°/s for 2.5mA GVS.
These perceived velocities were stable across repetitions.
The results provide quantitative data on GVS-induced roll perception.

Conclusions:

This study quantifies, for the first time, perceived virtual roll rotations from binaural-bipolar square-wave GVS.
Estimates were based on perceptual judgments, independent of motor responses and gravity perception.
Findings advance GVS applications in sensory substitution and Virtual Reality.