Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation as a Novel Treatment for Seasickness

subjects with severe seasickness, who failed to habituate to sea conditions after at least six month of active sailing, were enrolled to the single-blind randomized control study. The intervention group was treated with rotatory chair stimulation at sinusoidal harmonic acceleration protocol coupled with galvanic vestibular stimulation to the mastoid processes. This unique procedure was hypothesized to promote habituation to seasickness. The control group underwent a sham procedure. All study participants filled out seasickness questionnaires at set time points following the intervention and underwent repeated step testing to determine their vestibular time constant. The number of anti-motion sickness clinic visits and scopolamine prescriptions was also recorded in the three months period following the intervention.

Motion Sickness, Seasickness, Galvanic vestibular stimulation, Rotatory chair, Vestibular time constant

Participants with severe motion sickness were sited in the the rotatory chair with the videonystagmography recorder masking their eyes, while two galvanic vestibular stimulation electrodes were connected to the mastoid processes. No active stimulus was given.

Participants with severe motion sickness were sited in the the rotatory chair with the videonystagmography recorder masking their eyes, while two galvanic vestibular stimulation electrodes were connected to the mastoid processes. The rotatory chair was activated in sinusoidal harmonic acceleration protocol in inverse phase to galvanic vestibular stimulation.

GVS stimulation coupled with inverse phase rotatory chair stimulation at sinusoidal harmonic acceleration protocol

GVS stimulation coupled with inverse phase rotatory chair stimulation at sinusoidal harmonic acceleration protocol

Participants with severe motion sickness were sited in the the rotatory chair with the videonystagmography recorder masking their eyes, while two galvanic vestibular stimulation electrodes were connected to the mastoid processes. No active stimulus was given.

Seasickness severity as determined by Wiker questionnaire at set time frames following the intervention

scopolamine drug prescriptions were calculated for each participant and compared between the two groups

Anti-motion sickness clinic visits were calculated for each participant and compared between the two groups

Inclusion Criteria: maximum score of 7 on the Wiker seasickness questionnaire in moderate sea conditions, with wave height of 0 - 1.5 m All had been sailing regularly for at least six months before enrolling in the study Exclusion Criteria: history of hearing loss otoscopic findings of ear pathology an implanted electrode a finding of vestibulopathy on otoneurologic examination withdrawal by any subject of his informed consent.

Gutkovich YE, Lagami D, Jamison A, Fonar Y, Tal D. Galvanic vestibular stimulation as a novel treatment for seasickness. Exp Brain Res. 2022 Feb;240(2):429-437. doi: 10.1007/s00221-021-06263-w. Epub 2021 Nov 15.