Painting observation changes balance in patients with bilateral vestibulopathy

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Background Bilateral vestibulopathy is a disorder characterized by significant impairments in vestibular function, leading to changes in the kinematics of standing body sway. While previous studies have demonstrated that observing paintings can influence postural control in healthy adults, the effects of such visual stimuli on individuals with BVP remain unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the impact of observing an artistic painting on postural balance. Methods Posture was assessed in 34 patients with bilateral vestibuloapthy compared to 30 healthy controls using three static balance conditions: (1) eyes open by fixating a cross, (2) eyes closed, and (3) while viewing an impressionist painting (Le Bassin Aux Nymphéas, Monet). Results Patients with bilateral vestibulopathy, compared to healthy controls, had higher center of pressure standard deviation and amplitude in the anteroposterior direction eyes open and eyes closed but no differences between groups were detected when viewing the painting. Conclusions These findings suggest that art observation can influence postural control in vestibular-defective patients. Further research will be needed to understand the basis of this effect and its possible relevance for rehabilitative treatment.