Enhanced vestibular-evoked balance responses in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis

We tested the hypothesis that adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients exhibit asymmetries in the vestibular control of balance. We observed larger vestibular-evoked balance responses in participants with AIS to stimuli targeting primary vestibular afferents unilaterally and bilaterally. These larger balance-correcting responses of vestibular origin, however, were symmetric and oriented in the expected interaural direction. Our results indicate a strengthened connection between the vestibular error signals evoked by electrical stimuli and the resulting balance responses in participants with AIS.