Portable virtual vestibular stimulation

Vestibular dysfunction is associated with the developmental delay of motor and attention skills. Integrity of the vestibular and visual systems manifest in rapid side to side eye movement called nystagmus. This may be evoked by physical rotation or caloric stimulation to the ear drums. The approach in this technological advance explores whether controlled rotation of the environment can induce the nystagmus in healthy adult subjects. This provides a portable solution which utilizes technology associated with virtual reality. VR allows a level of control not possible in the `real' world and allows the therapist a degree of control over the environment that is not normally possible. Initial testing illustrates that nystagmus is apparent in the electro-ocular recording during stimulation, but so far, does not persist beyond the stimulation period.