Article

In spatial neglect, the functional benefit of rehabilitation
methods is subject to debate. A few studies have reported that galvanic
vestibular stimulation (GVS) is efficacious in spatial neglect.
The objective of
the present study was to establish whether the effects of GVS persist after the
end of stimulation. MATERIALS: Four patients with pathological rightward
deviation in a bisection task at least three months after right hemisphere
stroke. A single-blind, randomized crossover design was used to assess the
effects of GVS on performance in line bisection and star cancellation tasks under
three different conditions (cathode-right, cathode-left and sham stimulation).
RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the performance of either task
following GVS (relative to sham stimulation). CONCLUSION: Galvanic vestibular
stimulation did not reduce spatial neglect symptoms in any of the stimulation
conditions. Further studies are necessary to understand the disparity between our
results and those reported in the literature. Repeated sessions,
a higher current
intensity and/or alternating-current stimulation may improve this method before
it can be used clinically.
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Langue : ANGLAIS ; FRANCAIS