Cerebellar input modulates activity in the vestibular nuclei, the origin of the lateral vestibulospinal tract (LVST), which influences muscle tone and postural sway. Although cerebellar cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) reduces postural sway, suggesting potential for neuromodulation in balance control, its combined effect with vestibular-targeting exercise on LVST excitability and postural...
Preliminary RCT evidence; await full results and replication before incorporating cerebellar tDCS combined with gaze stabilization into vestibular rehabilitation protocols.
If confirmed, combining non-invasive brain stimulation with standard vestibular exercise could meaningfully enhance postural rehabilitation outcomes for patients with balance disorders.
- 01RCT design testing combined gaze stabilization exercise + cerebellar tDCS vs. components alone.
- 02Outcome targets include the lateral vestibulospinal tract and overall postural control.
- 03Published in Journal of Motor Behavior, 2026 (doi: 10.1080/00222895.2026.2700347).
- 04Cerebellar tDCS is a non-invasive, low-intensity electrical brain stimulation technique.
- 05Findings could influence future vestibular rehabilitation protocols if replicated.
Combined gaze stabilization exercise and cerebellar tDCS has a measurable effect on the lateral vestibulospinal tract and postural control.
studyunclear- PMID
- 42429567
- DOI
- 10.1080/00222895.2026.2700347.
- Journal
- Journal of Motor Behavior
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 1b
- Population
- Participants with vestibular dysfunction or balance impairment (specific population not stated in abstract)
- Intervention
- Combined gaze stabilization exercise and cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
- Comparator
- Gaze stabilization exercise alone, cerebellar tDCS alone, or sham control (not explicitly stated)
Primary outcomes
Lateral vestibulospinal tract function; Postural control