AIM To explore a new vestibular function training program by observing the effects of a newly designed vestibular stimulation method that constantly changes the rotation direction of the electric swivel chair on the subjects' motor disease scores, autonomic nerve function and cognitive function.

METHODS Twenty healthy young subjects, successively in random order, completed two experiments in the experimental and control groups, respectively. In the experimental group, the subjects received 50°/s² angular acceleration to 120°/s for 2 min vestibular stimulation, and the rotation direction was changed at the same accelerated speed every 15 s during rotation. Changes in the cognitive competence and heart rate variability before, during, and after stimulation to the subjects were recorded. In the control group, the subjects did not undergo vestibular stimulation, but only rreceived three tests of cognitive competence and heart rate variability simultaneously with the experimental group.

RESULTS The motor disease scores of the subjects in experimental group was significantly higher after stimulation (P<0.05), but the scores in control group were unchanged. The heart rate variability of the subjects in experimental group significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the low frequency and low/high frequency ratio increased in the experimental group (P<0.05); in the experimental group, the response to visual retention tasks decreased significantly after stimulation compared to that before stimulation (P<0.05), and the accuracy of the Stroop Color Word Test was significantly lower during the stimulation compared with the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION This vestibular stimulation mode causes moderate vestibular response, enhances sympathetic excitability, promotes visual working memory ability and has a certain inhibitory effect on the executive ability and attention.