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Smith AT, Greenlee MW, DeAngelis GC, Angelaki D. Distributed Visual–Vestibular Processing in the Cerebral Cortex of Man and Macaque. Multisens Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1163/22134808-00002568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of visual–vestibular interactions underlying self-motion perception are reviewed with an emphasis on comparisons between the macaque and human brains. In both species, several distinct cortical regions have been identified that are active during both visual and vestibular stimulation and in some of these there is clear evidence for sensory integration. Several possible cross-species homologies between cortical regions are identified. A key feature of cortical organization is that the same information is apparently represented in multiple, anatomically diverse cortical regions, suggesting that information about self-motion is used for different purposes in different brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T. Smith
- Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Mark W. Greenlee
- Institute of Experimental Psychology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Gregory C. DeAngelis
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - Dora E. Angelaki
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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Kirollos R, Allison RS, Palmisano S. Cortical Correlates of the Simulated Viewpoint Oscillation Advantage for Vection. Multisens Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1163/22134808-00002593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Behavioural studies have consistently found stronger vection responses for oscillating, compared to smooth/constant, patterns of radial flow (the simulated viewpoint oscillation advantage for vection). Traditional accounts predict that simulated viewpoint oscillation should impair vection by increasing visual–vestibular conflicts in stationary observers (as this visual oscillation simulates self-accelerations that should strongly stimulate the vestibular apparatus). However, support for increased vestibular activity during accelerating vection has been mixed in the brain imaging literature. This fMRI study examined BOLD activity in visual (cingulate sulcus visual area — CSv; medial temporal complex — MT+; V6; precuneus motion area — PcM) and vestibular regions (parieto-insular vestibular cortex — PIVC/posterior insular cortex — PIC; ventral intraparietal region — VIP) when stationary observers were exposed to vection-inducing optic flow (i.e., globally coherent oscillating and smooth self-motion displays) as well as two suitable control displays. In line with earlier studies in which no vection occurred, CSv and PIVC/PIC both showed significantly increased BOLD activity during oscillating global motion compared to the other motion conditions (although this effect was found for fewer subjects in PIVC/PIC). The increase in BOLD activity in PIVC/PIC during prolonged exposure to the oscillating (compared to smooth) patterns of global optical flow appears consistent with vestibular facilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramy Kirollos
- Centre for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Robert S. Allison
- Centre for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Stephen Palmisano
- Centre for Psychophysics, Psychophysiology, and Psychopharmacology
- School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
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Roberts RE, Ahmad H, Arshad Q, Patel M, Dima D, Leech R, Seemungal BM, Sharp DJ, Bronstein AM. Functional neuroimaging of visuo-vestibular interaction. Brain Struct Funct 2016; 222:2329-2343. [PMID: 27942855 PMCID: PMC5504268 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-016-1344-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The brain combines visual, vestibular and proprioceptive information to distinguish between self- and world motion. Often these signals are complementary and indicate that the individual is moving or stationary with respect to the surroundings. However, conflicting visual motion and vestibular cues can lead to ambiguous or false sensations of motion. In this study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to explore human brain activation when visual and vestibular cues were either complementary or in conflict. We combined a horizontally moving optokinetic stimulus with caloric irrigation of the right ear to produce conditions where the vestibular activation and visual motion indicated the same (congruent) or opposite directions of self-motion (incongruent). Visuo-vestibular conflict was associated with increased activation in a network of brain regions including posterior insular and transverse temporal areas, cerebellar tonsil, cingulate and medial frontal gyri. In the congruent condition, there was increased activation in primary and secondary visual cortex. These findings suggest that when sensory information regarding self-motion is contradictory, there is preferential activation of multisensory vestibular areas to resolve this ambiguity. When cues are congruent, there is a bias towards visual cortical activation. The data support the view that a network of brain areas including the posterior insular cortex may play an important role in integrating and disambiguating visual and vestibular cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- R E Roberts
- Neuro-otology Unit, Division of Brain Sciences, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - H Ahmad
- Neuro-otology Unit, Division of Brain Sciences, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Q Arshad
- Neuro-otology Unit, Division of Brain Sciences, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - M Patel
- Neuro-otology Unit, Division of Brain Sciences, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - D Dima
- Department of Psychology, City, University of London, London, UK.,Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - R Leech
- Computational, Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory, Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - B M Seemungal
- Neuro-otology Unit, Division of Brain Sciences, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - D J Sharp
- Computational, Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory, Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - A M Bronstein
- Neuro-otology Unit, Division of Brain Sciences, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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Cross-Modal Attention Effects in the Vestibular Cortex during Attentive Tracking of Moving Objects. J Neurosci 2016; 36:12720-12728. [PMID: 27821579 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2480-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Revised: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The midposterior fundus of the Sylvian fissure in the human brain is central to the cortical processing of vestibular cues. At least two vestibular areas are located at this site: the parietoinsular vestibular cortex (PIVC) and the posterior insular cortex (PIC). It is now well established that activity in sensory systems is subject to cross-modal attention effects. Attending to a stimulus in one sensory modality enhances activity in the corresponding cortical sensory system, but simultaneously suppresses activity in other sensory systems. Here, we wanted to probe whether such cross-modal attention effects also target the vestibular system. To this end, we used a visual multiple-object tracking task. By parametrically varying the number of tracked targets, we could measure the effect of attentional load on the PIVC and the PIC while holding the perceptual load constant. Participants performed the tracking task during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Results show that, compared with passive viewing of object motion, activity during object tracking was suppressed in the PIVC and enhanced in the PIC. Greater attentional load, induced by increasing the number of tracked targets, was associated with a corresponding increase in the suppression of activity in the PIVC. Activity in the anterior part of the PIC decreased with increasing load, whereas load effects were absent in the posterior PIC. Results of a control experiment show that attention-induced suppression in the PIVC is stronger than any suppression evoked by the visual stimulus per se. Overall, our results suggest that attention has a cross-modal modulatory effect on the vestibular cortex during visual object tracking. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In this study we investigate cross-modal attention effects in the human vestibular cortex. We applied the visual multiple-object tracking task because it is known to evoke attentional load effects on neural activity in visual motion-processing and attention-processing areas. Here we demonstrate a load-dependent effect of attention on the activation in the vestibular cortex, despite constant visual motion stimulation. We find that activity in the parietoinsular vestibular cortex is more strongly suppressed the greater the attentional load on the visual tracking task. These findings suggest cross-modal attentional modulation in the vestibular cortex.
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Riccelli R, Indovina I, Staab JP, Nigro S, Augimeri A, Lacquaniti F, Passamonti L. Neuroticism modulates brain visuo-vestibular and anxiety systems during a virtual rollercoaster task. Hum Brain Mapp 2016; 38:715-726. [PMID: 27677756 PMCID: PMC6866907 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Revised: 08/10/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Different lines of research suggest that anxiety‐related personality traits may influence the visual and vestibular control of balance, although the brain mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear. To our knowledge, this is the first functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study that investigates how individual differences in neuroticism and introversion, two key personality traits linked to anxiety, modulate brain regional responses and functional connectivity patterns during a fMRI task simulating self‐motion. Twenty‐four healthy individuals with variable levels of neuroticism and introversion underwent fMRI while performing a virtual reality rollercoaster task that included two main types of trials: (1) trials simulating downward or upward self‐motion (vertical motion), and (2) trials simulating self‐motion in horizontal planes (horizontal motion). Regional brain activity and functional connectivity patterns when comparing vertical versus horizontal motion trials were correlated with personality traits of the Five Factor Model (i.e., neuroticism, extraversion‐introversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness). When comparing vertical to horizontal motion trials, we found a positive correlation between neuroticism scores and regional activity in the left parieto‐insular vestibular cortex (PIVC). For the same contrast, increased functional connectivity between the left PIVC and right amygdala was also detected as a function of higher neuroticism scores. Together, these findings provide new evidence that individual differences in personality traits linked to anxiety are significantly associated with changes in the activity and functional connectivity patterns within visuo‐vestibular and anxiety‐related systems during simulated vertical self‐motion. Hum Brain Mapp 38:715–726, 2017. © 2016 The Authors Human Brain Mapping Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Riccelli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences; University “Magna Graecia,”; Catanzaro Italy
| | - Iole Indovina
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology; IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation; Rome 00179 Italy
- Centre of Space BioMedicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata; Rome 00173 Italy
| | - Jeffrey P. Staab
- Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology and Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery; Mayo Clinic; Rochester Minnesota USA
| | - Salvatore Nigro
- Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology, National Research Council; Catanzaro 88100 Italy
| | - Antonio Augimeri
- Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology, National Research Council; Catanzaro 88100 Italy
| | - Francesco Lacquaniti
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology; IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation; Rome 00179 Italy
- Centre of Space BioMedicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata; Rome 00173 Italy
- Department of Systems Medicine; University of Rome Tor Vergata; Rome 00133 Italy
| | - Luca Passamonti
- Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology, National Research Council; Catanzaro 88100 Italy
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences; University of Cambridge; Cambridge United Kingdom
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