Question

Describe what would happen if additional stimulation was applied to the vestibular system while balancing on the foam block

Would this improve or worsen balance performance? Explain.

Answer 1

An increase in stimulation to the vestibular system is likely to worsen the balance performance. This is because balance performance is one that depends on coordination between 3 systems in a synchronous manner. The 3 systems are vestibular, visual, and somatosensory. Stimulation which is received by all the three systems must be of equal amplitude as to execute a perfect balancing. Here when one system is being triggered with an extra potential then the entire balancing is lost. The information which is received in the vestibular system is concurrently processed with the visual system and somatosensory system in the vestibular nuclei complex as well as the cerebellum. Another point to be noted is that in a foam surface which is unstable balancing factor is maintained up to 60% by the vestibular system, 30% by the visual and the remaining 10% by the somatosensory. Here an increased vestibular system stimulation will naturally worsen balance as it is the primary factor helping in balancing.