Pilot Study on Mal de Debarquement

描述（由申请人提供）：脱臼综合症（MdDS）是一种摇晃的幻觉，症状包括定向障碍、失衡、头痛和疲劳。虽然MdDS最常发生在海上巡航之后，但其他形式的交通工具也可能导致它。MdDS的症状可以是短暂的（几分钟）或持续的（几年）。目前，这种情况的机制和治疗方案都不存在。我们提出MdDS是由不寻常的运动触发的，其中一个平面的旋转与另一个平面耦合。我们还认为，刺激的特定频率导致了这种不寻常的适应。这些假设可以通过研究前庭系统的特征反应来验证。我们的初步数据表明，MdDS患者有独特的前庭眼运动，只有在经历了不寻常的运动后才会明显。此外，我们患者的摇晃感频率为0.2 Hz，这也是正常人引起最大晕动病的关键频率。根据眼动和摇晃频率的决定因素，我们可以设计一种有效的前庭和视觉相互作用MdDS患者的治疗刺激。初步处理结果表明，该方法具有较强的鲁棒性。我们建议的目的是表征MdDS患者的前庭反应，并利用这些发现治疗这种毁灭性的疾病。我们相信，我们提出的研究将为这一自达尔文时代就被认识到的神秘现象提供新的见解，并为受其影响的人提供切实可行的治疗选择。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Mal de debarquement syndrome (MdDS) is an illusionary sensation of rocking, with symptoms that include disorientation, imbalance, headache and fatigue. While MdDS most often occurs after an ocean cruise, other forms of transportation can also cause it. The symptoms of MdDS can be transient (minutes) or persistent (years). At this time, neither the mechanisms nor treatment options for this condition exist. We propose that MdDS is triggered by unusual motion, where the rotation in one plane is coupled to the other. We also believe that there is a specific frequency of the stimulus that causes this unusual adaptation. These postulates can be tested by studying the characteristic responses of vestibular system. Our preliminary data has demonstrated that there are distinctive vestibular eye movements in MdDS patients, which are only apparent after experiencing the unusual motion. Furthermore, the frequency of rocking sensation in our patients is 0.2 Hz, which is also a critical frequency for provoking maximum motion sickness in normal population. With the determinants of eye movement and rocking frequency, we can design an effective treatment stimulus for MdDS patients with vestibular and visual interaction. Based on the results of our preliminary treatment, this method is robust. The aim of our proposal is to characterize the vestibular responses of MdDS patients and treat this devastating malady using the findings. We believe that our proposed study will provide new insights into a mysterious phenomenon that has been recognized since Darwin's age, and create a tangible treatment option for those affected by it.