Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) is the art of exploring our sense of balance… with a little electricity! By applying mild electrical currents behind the ears, this method allows for artificial activation of the vestibular system—without any actual head movement. Located in the inner ear, this sensory system is composed of three semicircular canals and the otolithic organs, which detect head rotations and accelerations. GVS directly stimulates this motion-sensitive system, all while keeping the subject perfectly still.

In this review published in Experimental Brain Research, the authors (Sarah Marchand, Alba Langlade, Quentin Legois, and Alexandra Séverac Cauquil) provide a broad and up-to-date overview of this rapidly expanding field—from its historical foundations to its most recent clinical applications. Here’s what you’ll discover:

• It’s all about polarity: In GVS, everything depends on electrode placement. In the classic configuration, a cathode is placed on one side (which excites), and an anode on the other (which inhibits). The brain interprets this imbalance as a movement… that isn’t actually happening! Depending on where the electrodes are placed (mastoid, neck, forehead), the effects vary—offering a wide lens into vestibular system function.
• A body tuned to the current: GVS causes the body to lean toward the anode. This tilt is far from random—it reflects how the brain integrates vestibular signals with vision and proprioception to maintain balance. Postural responses vary depending on head position, stimulation type, and multisensory interactions.
• Eyes that respond to the current: The eyes react too! Ocular torsion, horizontal shifts, subtle vertical movements… These responses help pinpoint the vestibular structures involved (canals, otoliths) and provide insights into the vestibulo-ocular pathways.
• Perceiving through brain integration: fMRI and fNIRS studies show that GVS activates many cortical regions (insula, parietal cortex, area hMT+, etc.), often overlapping with areas involved in visual motion processing.
• Moving without moving: GVS can create strong illusions of movement, even when the body is perfectly still. Feelings of rotation, translation, or altered perception of the environment allow researchers to explore the mechanisms of self-motion perception and their interaction with real posture.
• Turning stimulation into therapy: Still mainly used in research, GVS is drawing growing interest in rehabilitation. It shows promise for restoring balance after stroke, in vestibular disorders, or in neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, low-intensity “noisy” GVS (nGVS) improves postural stability by amplifying weak vestibular signals. It may offer a promising path for enhancing brain plasticity and supporting sensorimotor recovery.

Galvanic vestibular stimulation may be over a century old, but its potential has never been more relevant. From sensory illusions to cortical activations and emerging clinical applications, this review takes you on a complete journey through the many faces of GVS. Yes, everything you always wanted to know about it, but were afraid to ask!

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00221-025-07079-8

Figure: How to place the electrodes? Two classic configurations of galvanic vestibular stimulation
A. Binaural bipolar montage: one electrode on each side of the head, behind the ears.
B. Monaural montage: one electrode behind one ear, the other on the neck, forehead, or forearm.