Research in Vestibular Science

Review

Vestibular Responses to Gravity Alterations: Nguyen Nguyen, Gyutae Kim, Kyu-Sung Kim; Res Vestib Sci. 2020;19(1):1-5. Published online March 15, 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.21790/rvs.2020.19.1.1

Abstract PDF: Due to the adaptation to environments on Earth, various health-related issues are raised when exposed to different circumstances in space. Of environmental factors in space, gravity alteration has been considered as one of critical environmental changes. The primary inner organ to detect the gravity change is the vestibular system, especially otolith organs, and some limited researches have conducted to understand its mechanical and physiological properties. However, the related consequences were not consistent in despite of well description in systemic effects ranged from the peripheral vestibular system to the central nervous system. Here, we revisited the neuronal and behavioral effects of the gravity alteration on the relevant organs through this review. By representing previous studies for the gravity effects on the peripheral and central vestibular system, this review would provide the concrete understanding of the vestibular responses to the gravity alteration. Also, the physiological responses are expected to provide the useful resources to understand the systemic vestibular responses under the gravity alteration.

Original Article

The Linear Transmission of the Vestibular Neural Information by Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation: Gyutae Kim, Sangmin Lee, Kyu-Sung Kim; Res Vestib Sci. 2016;15(4):132-140. Published online December 12, 2016; DOI: https://doi.org/10.21790/rvs.2016.15.4.132

Abstract PDF: Objective: Growing hypotheses indicate the galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) as an alternative method to manage the symptoms of parkinson’s disease (PD). GVS is easy and safe for use, and non-invasive. However, it is elusive how the neural information caused by GVS is transmitted in the central nervous system and relieves PD symptoms. To answer this question, we investigated the transmission of neural information by GVS in the central vestibular system, focused on vestibular nucleus (VN).
Methods
Twenty guinea pigs were used for this study for the extracellular neuronal recordings in the VN. The neuronal responses to rotation and GVS were analyzed by curve-fitting, and the numerical responding features, amplitudes and baselines, were computed. The effects of stimuli were examined by comparing these features.
Results
Twenty six vestibular neurons (15 regular and 11 irregular neurons) were recorded. Comparing the difference of baselines, we found the neural information was linearly transmitted with a reduced sensitivity (0.75). The linearity in the neural transmission was stronger in the neuronal groups with regular (correlation coefficient [Cor. Coef.]=0.91) and low sensitive units (Cor. Coef.=0.93), compared with those with irregular (Cor. Coef.=0.86) and high-sensitive neurons (Cor. Coef.=0.77).
Conclusion
The neural information by GVS was linearly transmitted no matter what the neuronal characteristics were.

갈바닉 자극에 의한 전정 신경정보의 선형적 이동: Gyutae Kim, Sangmin Lee, Kyu-Sung Kim; Received September 12, 2016 Accepted November 1, 2016 Published online November 1, 2016; [Accepted]

Abstract: Objective: Growing hypotheses indicate the galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) as an alternative method to manage the symptoms of parkinson’s disease (PD). GVS is easy and safe for use, and non-invasive. However, it is elusive how the neural information caused by GVS is transmitted in the central nervous system and relieves PD symptoms. To answer this question, we investigated the transmission of neural information by GVS in the central vestibular system, focused on vestibular nucleus (VN). Methods: Twenty guinea pigs were used for this study for the extracellular neuronal recordings in the VN. The neuronal responses to rotation and GVS were analyzed by curve-fitting, and the numerical responding features, amplitudes and baselines, were computed. The effects of stimuli were examined by comparing these features. Results: Twenty six vestibular neurons (15 regular and 11 irregular neurons) were recorded. Comparing the difference of baselines, we found the neural information was linearly transmitted with a reduced sensitivity (0.75). The linearity in the neural transmission was stronger in the neuronal groups with regular (Cor.Coef.=0.91) and low sensitive units (Cor.Coef.=0.93), compared with those with irregular (Cor.Coef.=0.86) and high-sensitive neurons (Cor.Coef.=0.77). Conclusion: The neural information by GVS was linearly transmitted no matter what the neuronal characteristics were.

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