Electrical vestibular stimulation in humans. A narrative review

Background: In patients with bilateral vestibulopathy, the regular treatment options, such as medication, surgery, and/ or vestibular rehabilitation, do not always suffice. Therefore, the focus in this field of vestibular research shifted to electri- cal vestibular stimulation (EVS) and the development of a system capable of artificially restoring the vestibular func- tion. Key Message: Currently, three approaches are being investigated: vestibular co-stimulation with a cochlear im- plant (CI), EVS with a vestibular implant (VI), and galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS). All three applications show promising results but due to conceptual differences and the experimental state, a consensus on which application is the most ideal for which type of patient is still missing. Summa- ry: Vestibular co-stimulation with a CI is based on “spread of excitation,” which is a phenomenon that occurs when the currents from the CI spread to the surrounding structures and stimulate them. It has been shown that CI activation can indeed result in stimulation of the vestibular structures. Therefore, the question was raised whether vestibular co- stimulation can be functionally used in patients with bilat- eral vestibulopathy. A more direct vestibular stimulation method can be accomplished by implantation and activa- tion of a VI. The concept of the VI is based on the technology and principles of the CI. Different VI prototypes are currently being evaluated regarding feasibility and functionality. So far, all of them were capable of activating different types of vestibular reflexes. A third stimulation method is GVS, which requires the use of surface electrodes instead of an implant- ed electrode array. However, as the currents are sent through the skull from one mastoid to the other, GVS is rather unspe- cific. It should be mentioned though, that the reported spread of excitation in both CI and VI use also seems to in- duce a more unspecific stimulation. Although all three ap- plications of EVS were shown to be effective, it has yet to be defined which option is more desirable based on applicabil- ity and efficiency. It is possible and even likely that there is a place for all three approaches, given the diversity of the pa- tient population who serves to gain from such technologies

Electrical vestibular stimulation in humans: a narrative review

Background: In patients with bilateral vestibulopathy, the regular treatment options, such as medication, surgery, and/ or vestibular rehabilitation, do not always suffice. Therefore, the focus in this field of vestibular research shifted to electrical vestibular stimulation (EVS) and the development of a system capable of artificially restoring the vestibular function. Key Message: Currently, three approaches are being investigated: vestibular co-stimulation with a cochlear implant (CI), EVS with a vestibular implant (VI), and galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS). All three applications show promising results but due to conceptual differences and the experimental state, a consensus on which application is the most ideal for which type of patient is still missing. Summary: Vestibular co-stimulation with a CI is based on “spread of excitation,” which is a phenomenon that occurs when the currents from the CI spread to the surrounding structures and stimulate them. It has been shown that CI activation can indeed result in stimulation of the vestibular structures. Therefore, the question was raised whether vestibular costimulation can be functionally used in patients with bilateral vestibulopathy. A more direct vestibular stimulation method can be accomplished by implantation and activation of a VI. The concept of the VI is based on the technology and principles of the CI. Different VI prototypes are currently being evaluated regarding feasibility and functionality. So far, all of them were capable of activating different types of vestibular reflexes. A third stimulation method is GVS, which requires the use of surface electrodes instead of an implanted electrode array. However, as the currents are sent through the skull from one mastoid to the other, GVS is rather unspecific. It should be mentioned though, that the reported spread of excitation in both CI and VI use also seems to induce a more unspecific stimulation. Although all three applications of EVS were shown to be effective, it has yet to be defined which option is more desirable based on applicability and efficiency. It is possible and even likely that there is a place for all three approaches, given the diversity of the patient population who serves to gain from such technologies

Companion to women's historical writing

This comprehensive reference work traces the history of women’s engagement with the production of history from antiquity to the present. It contains interpretative essays from almost 60 contributors and surveys the full range of historical writings in which women have engaged, including biographical and autobiographical writings, stories of women worthies, historical fictions, letter-writing and travelogue as well as a range of more conventional kinds of history. It also assesses women’s contribution to national historiographies and includes biographical entries on women historians. In challenging the traditional narrow definition of ’history’, the Companion explores the way in which women writers have negotiated and changed this ostensibly masculinist genre, and explores the relationship between feminism and the development of ’women’s history’. "The Companion to Women’s Historical Writing" is a reference tool and an introduction to women’s historical literature

Companion to women's historical writing

712 page(s)Paperback edition of book first published in 2005

Neurectomia vestibular e coclear no guinea pig vivo: uma via occipital Vestibular and cochlear neurectomy in the alive guinea pig: an occipital approach

Forma de estudo: Experimental. Objetivo: Este artigo descreve uma nova via cirúrgica para atingir a inervatura vestíbulo-coclear (VIII par ) no Guinea pig vivo. Essa via é totalmente óssea (exceto o acesso ao próprio osso), o que implica em poucos danos às estruturas nobres do animal, o qual é passível de recuperação para estudos posteriores do sistema vestibular e coclear e todas as suas referências, com o ouvido interno, médio e externo. Conclusão: Mesmo exigindo precisão e controle, dada a proximidade com estruturas vitais, ela se mostra bastante viável do ponto de vista prático e muito menos invasiva e danosa em relação a outras cirurgias realizadas com a mesma finalidade, por permitir exames de imitanciometria, Bera, vemp, reflexos estapediais e do tensor do tímpano, entre outros físicos ou fisioelétricos.<br>Study design: Experimental. Aim: This paper describes a new surgery neurectomy technique to the VIII pair in Guinea pig alive. This is a full boned way, except for the access to the bone itself, what implies in minor damage to important structures of the animal. The animal recuperation is pretty good for later studies of the vestibular and cochlear system, and all its references to inner, middle and external ears. Conclusion: Even though the precision and control necessary, because of the neighbourhoods vital structures, it shows enough availability from the practice sight, and much less invasible and damage than other surgeries with the same finality. It allows imitaciometry, bera, vemp, stapediun and tympanic tensor reflexes and others (physicals or physioelectric)