Vestibular modulation of face identity processing: Differential effects on self, familiar and unfamiliar faces

The vestibular system is increasingly recognized for its role in higher-order cognitive functions, including bodily self-representation. However, its involvement in self-face representation remains unexplored. In the present study, we investigated whether artificial modulation of the vestibular system via Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) can influence the representation of one's own and others' faces....

No actionable change — this is a basic-science cognitive neuroscience study; it does not directly inform audiology or vestibular clinical practice at this stage.

Demonstrating that the vestibular system influences complex social cognition like face-identity processing broadens our understanding of how balance disorders may have underappreciated effects on cognitive and social function.

1. 01Vestibular stimulation differentially modulated recognition of self, familiar, and unfamiliar faces.
2. 02Published in Biological Psychology, extending vestibular research into higher-order social cognition.
3. 03Findings suggest vestibular pathways interact with brain regions involved in identity processing.
4. 04Implications may eventually inform understanding of cognitive symptoms in vestibular disorder patients.
5. 05Study is basic science; direct clinical application is not yet established.

PMID

42276516

DOI

10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109326.

Journal

Biological Psychology

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

2b

Population

Human participants undergoing vestibular stimulation, assessed on face-identity recognition tasks

Intervention

Vestibular stimulation

Comparator

Sham or baseline condition (no vestibular stimulation)