Vestibular Stimulation on a Motion-Simulator Impacts on Mood States

Abstract

We are familiar with both pleasant and unpleasant psychotropic effects of movements associated with vestibular stimulation. However, there has been no attempt to scientifically explore the impact of different kinds of vestibular stimulation on mood states and biomarkers. A sample of 23 healthy volunteers were subjected to a random sequence of three different passive rotational (yaw, pitch, roll) and translational (heave, sway, surge) vestibular stimulation paradigms using a motion-simulator (hexapod). Mood states were measured by means of questionnaires and visual analog scales. In addition, saliva cortisol and α-amylase samples were taken. Compared to a subliminal control paradigm all rotational and two translational stimulations produced significant changes in mood states: Yaw rotation was associated with feeling more comfortable, pitch rotation with feeling more alert and energetic, and roll rotation with feeling less comfortable. Heave translation was associated with feeling more alert, less relaxed, and less comfortable and surge translation with feeling more alert. Biomarkers were not affected. In conclusion, we provide first experimental evidence that passive rotational and translational movements may influence mood states on a short-term basis and that the quality of these psychotropic effects may depend on the plane and axis of the respective movements.

Controlled Vestibular Stimulation: A Physiological Method of Stress Relief

“…Vestibular stimulation also improves cognition [20]. Rocking is soothing and may be due to involvement of brainstem inhibitory mechanisms [9]. In the present case we have observed steady and significant decrease in salivary cortisol, Blood pressure and blood cell counts followed by controlled vestibular stimulation.…”

“…Hammam E et al, suggested that low frequency stimulation is benefitial. [8] Winter et al, reported that they have observed decrease in salivary cortisol in volunteers who subjected to front to back motion on a hexapod [9]. vestibular under stimulation, does not have any effect or mild effect and over stimulation causes nausea, vomiting and radical fluctuations in pulse and respiration [7].…”

Modulation of immune responses in stress by vestibular stimulation

“…[6] Vestibular stimulation may limit stress induced changes in immunity by inhibiting both the stress axes, as both animal and human studies reported decrease in cortisol and blood pressure followed by vestibular stimulation. [24][25][26] Interestingly, vestibular lesions cause increase in cortisol levels. [27] Animal and human case studies reported that vestibular stimulation has limited stress induced changes in hematological parameters.…”

The Moving History of Vestibular Stimulation as a Therapeutic Intervention

“…Using a motion device, passive yaw rotation elicited more comfortable feelings; pitch rotations elicited more alert and energetic feelings, and roll rotation elicited less comfortable feelings. Passive heave translation evoked more alert, less relaxed and less comfortable feelings, and surge translation more alerting feelings (Winter et al, 2012). Based on those findings and inspired by Cox' chair (cp.…”