Design and evaluation of a voltage-controlled current source for galvanic vestibular stimulation research

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) is vital for balance and spatial orientation.
• Oculo-Vestibular Recoupling (OVR) integrates visual and vestibular input, showing potential for motion sickness reduction and Extended Reality (XR) immersion.
• Current GVS research faces challenges due to a lack of open-source devices, reliance on custom prototypes, and complex calibration, hindering accessibility and reproducibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an open-source, voltage-controlled current source (VCCS) module for Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS).
• To provide a safe, stable, and accessible solution for researchers in GVS studies.
• To address the limitations of current GVS prototyping and enhance experimental reproducibility.

Main Methods:

• Hardware development of an open-source VCCS module tailored for GVS applications.
• Performance evaluation and wireless integration of the developed module.
• Conducting a small-scale user study to assess feasibility and user perception of GVS with the new module.

Main Results:

• Successful development and validation of a safe, stable, and compact open-source VCCS module for GVS.
• Demonstrated feasibility and positive user perception in a preliminary user study.
• The module offers a simplified and accessible approach to GVS experimentation.

Conclusions:

• The proposed open-source VCCS module effectively addresses the challenges in GVS research by providing an accessible, safe, and reproducible platform.
• This development facilitates wider adoption and advancement of GVS applications, particularly in areas like XR and motion sickness mitigation.
• The study offers a valuable resource for researchers seeking to implement GVS without extensive electronics expertise.