Boosting Reward-based Attention Through VEstibular STimulation

Summary

The exploration of space is more effective when intrinsically rewarding elements are located in the visual scene. Thus, rewards could be exploited as a novel rehabilitation approach to various attentional disorders. The first part of the project aims to characterize these effects at the behavioural level. The interventional part consists then in the administration of Caloric Vestibular Stimulation (CVS), which by means of injection of a small quantity of water in the external ear activates the vestibular organs and subsequently vestibular-related brain areas. Among the observed brain activations, the possibility to reach cingulate areas appears particularly interesting because it foreshadows the possibility to further enhance attentional capture by rewards.

CVS will be delivered to patients with brain lesion of the right hemisphere, engaged in cancellation tasks requiring the processing of targets of different nature (e.g. monetary or neutral). The main prediction is that CVS administration would enhance spatial exploration in terms of center of gravity of the cancellation and improved accuracy as a function of the type of target processed (e.g. its value).

Conditions

• Brain Lesion of the Right Hemisphere
• Unilateral Spatial Neglect for Half of Them

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Non-invasive brain stimulation of the vestibular system through caloric vestibular stimulation.

Caloric vestibular stimulation (CVS) involves the irrigation of cold or warm water into the external ear canal, and induces a temperature gradient across the semicircular canals stimulating the vestibular nerve. It is commonly used in both otolaryngology to assess vestibular function and neurology to test brain stem function.

PROCEDURE

Non-invasive brain stimulation of the vestibular system through caloric vestibular stimulation.

Caloric vestibular stimulation (CVS) involves the irrigation of cold or warm water into the external ear canal, and induces a temperature gradient across the semicircular canals stimulating the vestibular nerve. It is commonly used in both otolaryngology to assess vestibular function and neurology to test brain stem function.

PROCEDURE

Non-invasive brain stimulation of the vestibular system through caloric vestibular stimulation.

Caloric vestibular stimulation (CVS) involves the irrigation of cold or warm water into the external ear canal, and induces a temperature gradient across the semicircular canals stimulating the vestibular nerve. It is commonly used in both otolaryngology to assess vestibular function and neurology to test brain stem function. The SHAM condition uses body-temperature water, and thus does not result into vestibular unbalance.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hospices Civils de Lyon

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

85 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-04-23

Primary Completion

2018-05-08

Completion

2023-02-13

Countries

• France

Study Locations