PsychologyCode Series – Article 3 [ Originally Written on July 24, 2013 ]
Neuroplasticity: A Regained Sense of Balance
Today I thought I would continue with another instalment about Neuroplasticity (abbreviated in the title as NP). On top of our tradition five senses we also have a sense of balance, which is largely related to our sense of hearing. It is not a sense we think much about because it works so well; however, for those who lose this sense the results are devastating.
Just as our sense of hearing works through the movements of tiny hairs within the ear, so does our sense of balance. Position, movement, and acceleration are all detected within the vestibular system of the inner ear. Essentially this system is composed various fluid filled chambers at different orientations. The movements of the tiny hairs within these fluid filled chambers are decoded giving us our sense of balance, position, and movement.
Our brain decode movements of tiny hairs within fluid filled chambers to give us our sense of equilibrium.
For a lady by the name of Cheryl Schiltz the consequences of a damaged vestibular system became painfully clear. Cheryl was prescribed gentamicin to treat an infection she had at the time, and while the medication treated her infection it also wrecked havoc on her vestibular system. The gentamicin destroyed roughly 98% of her sense of balance, and due to the damages the associated nerves ended up transmitting invalid signals to the brain. The result of this was described by Cheryl as an intense perpetual feeling of falling. The sensations were so debilitating that her body responded as if she was actually falling. These ‘wobbles’ were so strong that she could not stand still or even walk properly without falling down. On top of the physical distress, the psychological effects of her condition were extremely traumatic. She lost her job as an international sales representative, and had to file for disability.
Cheryl saw many doctors who all who told her that the damages were irreversible, and that she would never have her normal life back. However, one doctor by the name of Paul Bach-y-Rita (who I mentioned in my previous article) believed their was hope through his beliefs of an adaptable brain. While many doctors believed absolutely that the brain does not have the capacity to change itself (in any drastic degree) Paul Bach-y-Rita was willing to challenge the current beliefs and put neuroplasticity to the test.
In a similar way he remapped vision through the sense of touch he devised a small device which would attach to Cheryl’s tongue and take the place of her vestibular system. The device itself contained a piece of technology know as an accelerometer (these are commonly now found in smartphones). Various orientation, movement, and acceleration information was presented to her tongue in the form of subtle electrical sensations. To Cheryl these sensations would have felt like the tingles produced from a carbonated beverage. For instance if Cheryl leaned forward the tip of her tongue would tingle, if she leaned to the side then the side of her tongue would tingle, and so forth in order to encode the various orientations, movements, and changes in movement.
Astonishingly upon wearing this device Cheryl’s brain very rapidly adjusted to this new information, and almost like a miracle, her wobbles stopped. She no longer felt like she was falling. While wearing this device her nightmare had disappeared. The brain was able to start processing the new input presented through sensations on the tongue and use this information to produce a new sense of balance. However, what happened next showed that the brain is even more adaptive than could have been imagined.
After wearing the device for about a minute it was removed, but her symptoms did not suddenly return. There seemed to be a residual grace period which followed for around 20 seconds before her symptoms returned. When Cheryl wore the device for longer the residual period was extended in an exponential way. Her brain was not only remapping her sense of balance, but it was beginning to learn by comparing the signals between her tongue and the damaged part of her inner ear. Although only about two percent of her vestibular system was functioning correctly, her brain was able to focus on those signals and filter out the rest. This sensory remapping device gave her brain the ability to know the difference between valid and invalid signals. Once her brain could isolate the valid signals it was able to draw from the functioning part of vestibular system and even reinforce the valid signals. Paul Bach-y-Rita sensory remapping device allowed Cheryl to reclaim her sense of balance as well as her life.
More Information:
New Tools to Help Patients Reclaim Damaged Senses
The Brain is an Organ that just won’t be Contained
The following links also mention an extension of the tactile vision chair where instead the tongue is used due to its increased sensitivity.
Can You See With Your Tongue?
Balancing Act
A Fantastic Book on the subject of Neuroplasticity,
The Brain That Changes Itself – By: Norman Doidge
SeeingSharp 
