Title :
Portable virtual vestibular stimulation
Author :
Synnott, J. ; McCullagh, P.J. ; Kelly, G.P. ; McAllister, H.G. ; Houston, H.G.
Author_Institution :
Sch. of Comput. & Math., Univ. of Ulster, Newtownabbey, UK
Abstract :
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.
Keywords :
biomechanics; ear; electro-oculography; medical computing; neurophysiology; virtual reality; visual perception; attention skill developmental delay; caloric stimulation; ear drums; electro-ocular recording; motor skill developmental delay; nystagmus; physical rotation; portable virtual vestibular stimulation; side to side eye movement; vestibular dysfunction; virtual reality; Autism; Birth disorders; Brain injuries; Delay; Ear; Mathematics; Medical treatment; Testing; Virtual reality; Visual system; Nystagmus; Optokinetic; Vection; Vestibular System; Virtual Reality;
Conference_Titel :
Information Technology and Applications in Biomedicine, 2009. ITAB 2009. 9th International Conference on
Conference_Location :
Larnaca
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-5379-5
Electronic_ISBN :
978-1-4244-5379-5
DOI :
10.1109/ITAB.2009.5394316