Non-technical summaryGalvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) is a method for activating the human vestibular nerve with electricity. It induces sensations of head movement which cause sway and eye movements, and affect navigation. GVS is used here to demonstrate a novel vestibular reflex. Stimulation of standing subjects caused them to generate torque around a vertical axis, resulting in trunk rotation. Response magnitude and direction were systematically altered by head orientation in a manner consistent with GVS causing a sensation of head roll. This is relevant for balance control because vestibular information is only useful for fall prevention when interpreted in the context of head orientation. These findings therefore provide a method for investigating this neural transformation process. This can be used to diagnose deficiencies in the vestibular control of balance caused by ageing and/or neurological disease.
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