Creating a sense of balance: Understanding and enhancing electrical excitability of vestibular tissues.

30% of people over the age of 65 fall each year, often due to vestibular dysfunction. Treatments manage symptoms but do not restore balance. The development of Vestibular Implants (VIs) offers a solution. Recent work from the Bionic\VEST project led by Cochlear has demonstrated that electrical stimulation of the otoliths can significantly reduce falls. However, the mechanism of action remains poorly understood. This project will address these gaps by investigating the mechanics and neural coding of the otoliths, with the goal of enhancing vestibular neuromodulation for the future development of next-generation VIs that better replicate natural vestibular function.