Archana Rajagopalan1, KV Jinu2, Kumar Sai Sailesh2, Soumya Mishra3, Udaya Kumar Reddy4, Joseph Kurien Mukkadan5
1Department of Physiology, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
2Department of Physiology, Little Flower Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Angamaly, Kerala, India
3Department of Physiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India
4International Stress Management Association-India, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
5Department of Physiology, Little Flower Medical Research Centre, Angamaly, Kerala, India
10.4103/0976-9668.198350
ABSTRACT
Vestibular system, which consists of structures in the inner ear and brainstem, plays a vital role is body balance and patient well-being. In recent years, modulating this system by vestibular stimulation techniques are reported to be effective in stress relief and possibly patient’s emotional well-being. Emotions refer to an aroused state involving intense feeling, autonomic activation, and related change in behavior, which accompany many of our conscious experiences. The limbic system is primarily involved in the regulation of emotions. Considering the extensive networks between vestibular and limbic system, it is likely that vestibular stimulation techniques may be useful in influencing emotions. Hence, we review here, the possible mechanisms through which vestibular system can influence emotions and highlight the necessary knowledge gaps, which warrants further research to develop vestibular stimulation techniques as a means to treat health conditions associated with emotional disturbances.
Keywords: Central nervous system and autonomic nervous system, emotions, mental health, vestibular system.
