The Impact of Vestibular Stimulation on Sleep and Respiration in Humans

The vestibular system plays a role in both sleep and circadian rhythm regulation. Therefore, it has become a target for those interested in improving sleep quality. The purpose of this paper is to review the work that has been done in the area.

The results of studies investigating the effects of vestibular stimulation on improving sleep quality have been mixed. However, double-blind, randomized controlled trials with diverse participant populations suffering from insomnia are lacking. Nonetheless, improved respiratory function with bed rocking has been seen, which can improve sleep quality in cases of sleep fragmentation due to hypoventilation.

Despite growing interest in improving sleep quality with vestibular stimulation in sleep, modest evidence exists of the effectiveness of this method in those with normal respiratory function.