Neurophysiological Activation by Vestibular or Cranial Nerve Stimulation

Abstract

A method of treating a disorder may include positioning a thermoelectric device in the ear canal of a subject and activating the thermoelectric device to deliver caloric vestibular stimulation and/or cranial nerve stimulation effective to treat the disorder. In some embodiments, the ear canal may be cooled sufficiently to treat the disorder. In alternative embodiments, the ear canal may be warmed sufficiently to treat the disorder.

1 . In a method of diagnosing a disorder and/or evaluating brain function in a test subject by creating an image of at least a portion of the brain of said test subject, the improvement comprising:
 stimulating the test subject's vestibular system with a thermoelectric device prior to and/or concurrently with creating said image.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said image is selected from the group consisting of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) image, an X-ray computed tomography (CT) image, an ultrasound image, a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) image, a positron emission tomography (PET) image, an electroencephalography (EEG) image and a magnetoencephalography (MEG) image. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 analyzing brain activity in one or more areas of the test subject's brain following stimulation of the test subject's vestibular system.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 comparing the brain activity in one or more areas of the test subject's brain to brain activity observed in an image of a healthy control subject's brain, wherein the healthy control subject likewise received vestibular stimulation.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 comparing the brain activity in one or more areas of the test subject's brain to brain activity observed in an image of the test subject's brain that was taken during a previous testing session in which the test subject's vestibular system was stimulated.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more areas of the test subject's brain is/are selected group from the group consisting of the cerebellum, the cuneus, the precuneus, the fusiform gyrus, the hippocampus, the insula cortex, the lingual gyrus, the parahippocampus, the parietal lobe, the putamen, the singular gyms, the supplementary motor cortex, the temporal lobe and the thalamus. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein stimulating the test subject's vestibular system with a thermoelectric device comprises:
 positioning a thermoelectric device in the ear canal of the test subject; and   activating the thermoelectric device sufficient to stimulate the test subject's vestibular system.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein activating the thermoelectric device sufficient to stimulate the test subject's vestibular system comprises cooling the ear canal of the test subject. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the ear canal of the test subject is cooled by about 0.5 to about 37 degrees Centigrade. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the ear canal of the test subject is cooled by about 7 to about 33 degrees Centigrade. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the ear canal of the test subject is cooled by about 17 to about 27 degrees Centigrade. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein activating the thermoelectric device sufficient to stimulate the test subject's vestibular system comprises warming the ear canal of the test subject. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the ear canal of the test subject is warmed by about 0.5 to about 11 degrees Centigrade. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the ear canal of the test subject is warmed by about 0.5 to about 6.5 degrees Centigrade. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the ear canal of the test subject is warmed by about 2 to about 4 degrees Centigrade. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein activating the thermoelectric device sufficient to stimulate the test subject's vestibular system comprises:
 cooling the ear canal of the test subject; and then   warming the ear canal of the test subject.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein activating the thermoelectric device sufficient to stimulate the test subject's vestibular system comprises:
 warming the ear canal of the test subject; and then   cooling the ear canal of the test subject.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein activating the thermoelectric device sufficient to stimulate the test subject's vestibular system comprises cyclically activating the thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein activating the thermoelectric device sufficient to stimulate the test subject's vestibular system comprises delivering thermal pulses to the ear canal of the test subject. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein activating the thermoelectric device sufficient to stimulate the test subject's vestibular system comprises cyclically altering the temperature profile of the ear canal of the test subject. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein activating the thermoelectric device sufficient to stimulate the test subject's vestibular system comprises maintaining a stable temperature profile of the ear canal of the test subject. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein activating the thermoelectric device sufficient to stimulate the test subject's vestibular system comprises providing a temperature ramp to the ear canal of the test subject. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein activating the thermoelectric device sufficient to stimulate the test subject's vestibular system comprises providing a thermal stimulus having a uniform waveform to the ear canal of the test subject. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein activating the thermoelectric device sufficient to stimulate the test subject's vestibular system comprises providing a thermal stimulus having a stochastic waveform to the ear canal of the test subject. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein activating the thermoelectric device sufficient to stimulate the test subject's vestibular system comprises providing a thermal stimulus having a randomized waveform to the ear canal of the test subject. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein activating the thermoelectric device sufficient to stimulate the test subject's vestibular system comprises stimulating at least one cranial nerve other than the vestibulocochlear nerve. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one cranial nerve other than the vestibulocochlear nerve is selected from the group consisting of the vagus nerve, the trigeminal nerve and the glossopharyngeal nerve. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the vestibular system and the at least one cranial nerve other than the vestibulocochlear nerve are stimulated concurrently. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test subject demonstrates one or more indicators of declining cognitive function. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test subject is experiencing and/or has recently experienced mental and/or physical stress as a result of prolonged mental and/or physical exertion. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test subject is suffering from and/or has recently suffered from a potential cardiac infarction and/or stroke. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test subject is suffering from and/or has recently suffered from a brain/spinal cord injury. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test subject is suffering from and/or has recently suffered from epilepsy. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test subject is suffering from and/or has recently suffered from a migraine headache. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test subject is suffering from and/or has recently suffered from depression and/or bipolar disorder. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test subject is suffering from and/or has recently suffered from a neurodegenerative disorder. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disorder is a sensory disorder. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disorder is a motor disorder. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disorder is a cognitive disorder. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disorder is a neurodegenerative disorder. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disorder is a mood disorder.