Stimulating the Vestibular System

Vestibular stimulation

Thanks to Wikipedia: As our movements consist of rotations and translations, the vestibular system comprises two components: the semicircular canal system, which indicate rotational movements; and the otoliths, which indicate linear accelerations. The vestibular system sends signals primarily to the neural structures that control our eye movements, and to the muscles that keep us upright. The projections to the former provide the anatomical basis of the vestibulo-ocular reflex, which is required for clear vision; and the projections to the muscles that control our posture are necessary to keep us upright.

The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) is a reflex eye movement that stabilizes images on the retina during head movement by producing an eye movement in the direction opposite to head movement, thus preserving the image on the center of the visual field. For example, when the head moves to the right, the eyes move to the left, and vice versa. Since slight head movements are present all the time, the VOR is very important for stabilizing vision: patients whose VOR is impaired find it difficult to read, because they cannot stabilize the eyes during small head tremors. The VOR reflex does not depend on visual input and works even in total darkness or when the eyes are closed.

This reflex, combined with the push-pull principle described above, forms the physiological basis of the Rapid head impulse test or Halmagyi-Curthoys-test, in which the head is rapidly and forcefully moved to the side, while controlling if the eyes keep looking in the same direction.

Any time the head moves the vestibular system is stimulated. (Rocking, spinning, swinging, jumping, rolling, running circles…) The tired, unfocused or stressed out child will stimulate their own vestibular system as a way to ready their brain for learning, to turn it on. Very young children need a gazillion opportunities to stimulate their vestibular system so that all the systems that process information from the vestibular system will mature with efficiency. Practice, practice, practice! Not just the piano and violin! Ever seen a child "practice" swinging?!!! They crave this work! "Again! Again! Let's do it again!"

We've got work to do.
See you in class!
Yvette