An interventional study of Low-frequency noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) and High-frequency noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) in Vestibular Function Tests and Sensorimotor Performance, sponsored by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 22 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-28.
Sponsored by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
This randomized crossover interventional study evaluated the effects of different frequency ranges of noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) on vestibular perception, perceptual motion tracking, and manual control performance in healthy adults. Each participant completed three experimental conditions in randomized order: no stimulation (control), low-frequency nGVS, and high-frequency nGVS. Vestibular perceptual thresholds, perceptual tracking, and manual control performance were assessed during each condition to determine whether stimulation frequency influenced sensorimotor function.
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the frequency content of noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation influences vestibular perceptual sensitivity, tracking accuracy, and manual control performance. Healthy adult participants completed a randomized crossover protocol in which they received no stimulation, low-frequency nGVS, and high-frequency nGVS during separate experimental conditions within a single study session. Outcome measures included vestibular perceptual thresholds, tracking error rate, and measures of manual control performance. The results were intended to improve understanding of vestibular neuromodulation and inform optimization of nGVS parameters for future aerospace and clinical applications.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the lead sponsor of 12 studies on the registry; 5 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants completed testing without noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation.
Participants received low-frequency noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation during testing. Low frequency was 0-2 Hz.
Device: Low-frequency noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS)
Participants received high-frequency noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation during testing. High-frequency was 10-30 Hz.
Device: High-frequency noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS)
Participants received low-frequency noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation through electrodes placed over the bilateral mastoid processes during experimental testing. Stimulation parameters were consistent with the approved study protocol. Frequency was 0-2Hz white noise, 300uA amplitude.
Participants received high-frequency noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation through electrodes placed over the bilateral mastoid processes during experimental testing. Stimulation parameters were consistent with the approved study protocol. Frequency was 10-30Hz white noise, 300uA amplitude.
Vestibular Direction Recognition Threshold
Vestibular perceptual sensitivity was assessed using roll-tilt and interaural translation direction recognition tasks performed on a six-degree-of-freedom motion platform. Direction recognition thresholds were estimated from participant responses using an adaptive three-down, one-up staircase procedure and cumulative Gaussian psychometric curve fitting. Lower threshold values indicate greater vestibular sensitivity and improved perception of self-motion.
Time frame: Day 1 (single study visit): Participants completed outcome assessments during each randomized intervention condition (No nGVS, Low-Frequency nGVS, and High-Frequency nGVS). Each assessment required approximately 5 minutes to complete.
Perceptual Motion Tracking Accuracy
Perceptual motion tracking performance was evaluated during continuous pseudorandom roll motion. Participants used a joystick to continuously indicate their perceived direction and magnitude of platform motion. Performance was quantified using the root mean square error (RMSE) between joystick responses and the programmed motion stimulus, with lower RMSE values indicating more accurate perception and tracking of self-motion.
Time frame: Day 1 (single study visit): Participants completed outcome assessments during each randomized intervention condition (No nGVS, Low-Frequency nGVS, and High-Frequency nGVS). Each assessment required approximately 5 minutes to complete.
Manual Control Nulling Accuracy
Manual control performance was evaluated during continuous pseudorandom roll motion while participants used a joystick to actively minimize platform motion by generating corrective control inputs. Performance was quantified using the root mean square error (RMSE) between the platform tilt angle and the upright position over time. Lower RMSE values indicate more effective manual control and disturbance rejection.
Time frame: Day 1 (single study visit): Participants completed outcome assessments during each randomized intervention condition (No nGVS, Low-Frequency nGVS, and High-Frequency nGVS). Each assessment required approximately 5 minutes to complete.
Roll-Tilt Vestibular Direction Recognition Threshold
Vestibular perceptual threshold for roll-tilt motion was measured using a computerized three-down, one-up adaptive staircase procedure during a 1 Hz sinusoidal motion stimulus. Thresholds were estimated by fitting a cumulative Gaussian psychometric function to participants' left/right direction recognition responses. Lower threshold values indicate greater vestibular sensitivity.
Time frame: Day 1 (single study visit): Participants completed outcome assessments during each randomized intervention condition (No nGVS, Low-Frequency nGVS, and High-Frequency nGVS). Each assessment required approximately 5 minutes to complete.
Interaural Translation Vestibular Direction Recognition Threshold
Vestibular perceptual threshold for interaural translation motion was measured using a computerized three-down, one-up adaptive staircase procedure during a 1 Hz sinusoidal motion stimulus. Thresholds were estimated by fitting a cumulative Gaussian psychometric function to participants' left/right direction recognition responses. Lower threshold values indicate greater vestibular sensitivity.
Time frame: Day 1 (single study visit): Participants completed outcome assessments during each randomized intervention condition (No nGVS, Low-Frequency nGVS, and High-Frequency nGVS). Each assessment required approximately 5 minutes to complete.
Vestibular Direction Recognition Bias
Response bias during the vestibular direction recognition task was estimated from the mean of the cumulative Gaussian psychometric function. Bias represents the stimulus magnitude at which participants were equally likely to perceive motion in either direction, providing a measure of systematic perceptual offset.
Time frame: Day 1 (single study visit): Participants completed outcome assessments during each randomized intervention condition (No nGVS, Low-Frequency nGVS, and High-Frequency nGVS). Each assessment required approximately 5 minutes to complete.
Perceptual Motion Tracking Variability
Variability of perceptual motion tracking performance during continuous pseudorandom roll motion. Tracking variability was quantified using statistical measures including standard deviation and variance of tracking performance, providing an assessment of the consistency and precision of participant responses.
Time frame: Day 1 (single study visit): Participants completed outcome assessments during each randomized intervention condition (No nGVS, Low-Frequency nGVS, and High-Frequency nGVS). Each assessment required approximately 5 minutes to complete.
Manual Control Nulling Variability
Variability of manual control performance during the nulling task was quantified using standard deviation, variance, and mean absolute deviation of chair tilt relative to the upright position. These measures assessed the consistency and precision of participants' ability to minimize platform motion.
Time frame: Day 1 (single study visit): Participants completed outcome assessments during each randomized intervention condition (No nGVS, Low-Frequency nGVS, and High-Frequency nGVS). Each assessment required approximately 5 minutes to complete.
Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.
Plan to share: Yes — De-identified individual participant data underlying the results reported in the publication, including vestibular threshold measurements, perceptual motion tracking data, manual control performance data, and associated analysis code, will be made available upon reasonable request to the corresponding author. Additional study documents, including the study protocol, statistical analysis plan, and data dictionary, will also be available to support reproducibility. Data sharing will be subject to applicable institutional policies, IRB requirements, and any NASA data-sharing requirements in effect at the time of the request.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Sap, Analytic code
This study is completed, as verified in Jul 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)