1
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Fitze DC, Ertl M, Radlinger L, Mast FW. Vestibular perceptual learning improves self-motion perception, posture, and gait in older adults. Commun Biol 2024; 7:1087. [PMID: 39237668 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06802-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Vestibular motion perception declines with age, increasing the risk of falling substantially. We performed a two-week perceptual learning intervention using a self-motion direction discrimination task (2800 training trials per person) on a 6 degrees of freedom motion platform in healthy older adults (n = 40, aged 70-88 yr). Linear inter-aural and angular roll tilt vestibular thresholds improved with training (95% credible interval for pre/post difference), suggesting altered sensitivity post-training. Moreover, improved perceptual abilities transfer to actual posture (reduced sway) and gait parameters. Passive self-motion discrimination training provides a new and promising way to counteract age-related sensory decline. It can reduce the risk of falling, and thereby maintain individual autonomy and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Fitze
- Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Fabrikstrasse 8, Bern, 3012, Switzerland.
| | - Matthias Ertl
- Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Fabrikstrasse 8, Bern, 3012, Switzerland
- Clinic for Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Luzerner Kantonsspital, University teaching and research hospital, and University of Lucerne, Spitalstrasse 16, Luzern, 6000, Switzerland
- Faculty of Behavioural Sciences and Psychology, University of Lucerne, Frohburgstrasse 3, Luzern, 6002, Switzerland
| | - Lorenz Radlinger
- Department of Health Professions, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Stadtbachstrasse 64, Bern, 3012, Switzerland
| | - Fred W Mast
- Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Fabrikstrasse 8, Bern, 3012, Switzerland
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2
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Shao S, Mitsutake T, Maruyama H. Effects of Diamond Steps Exercises on Balance Improvement in Healthy Young and Older Adults: A Protocol Proposal. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:1834. [PMID: 37444668 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11131834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Diamond step (DS) exercises are associated with multiple components of postural control and, thus, have the potential to efficiently improve balance ability. This study aimed to verify whether DS exercises contribute to improving balance ability. This study included 35 healthy young people and 29 older adults. DS exercises were performed continuously for 3 min, four times a week, for 1 month. Balance ability was assessed at baseline and after 1 and 2 months; eight items in total were examined: 30 s chair stand test, functional reach test, standing on one leg with eyes closed, time required for five rounds of DS, left-right DS, Y balance test, open-close stepping test, and finger-to-floor distance. The difficulty, achievement, and lightness/enjoyment of DS exercises were measured after the first practice and 1 month after beginning the exercises as subjective evaluations. Older adults showed improvement in seven of the eight items, with the exception being the one-legged stance with closed eyes. The subjective evaluation showed a decrease in the level of difficulty of DS exercises for older adults. DS exercises may improve balance by effectively utilizing various postural control strategies. These exercises can be effective and easy to implement, given their moderate difficulty level and self-efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangyan Shao
- Graduate School of Physical Therapy, International University of Health and Welfare, 2600-1 Kitakanemaru, Otawara 324-8501, Tochigi, Japan
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka International University of Health and Welfare, 3-6-40 Momochihama, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0001, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Tsubasa Mitsutake
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka International University of Health and Welfare, 3-6-40 Momochihama, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0001, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Maruyama
- Graduate School of Physical Therapy, International University of Health and Welfare, 2600-1 Kitakanemaru, Otawara 324-8501, Tochigi, Japan
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka International University of Health and Welfare, 3-6-40 Momochihama, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0001, Fukuoka, Japan
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3
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Sinnott CB, Hausamann PA, MacNeilage PR. Natural statistics of human head orientation constrain models of vestibular processing. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5882. [PMID: 37041176 PMCID: PMC10090077 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32794-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Head orientation relative to gravity determines how gravity-dependent environmental structure is sampled by the visual system, as well as how gravity itself is sampled by the vestibular system. Therefore, both visual and vestibular sensory processing should be shaped by the statistics of head orientation relative to gravity. Here we report the statistics of human head orientation during unconstrained natural activities in humans for the first time, and we explore implications for models of vestibular processing. We find that the distribution of head pitch is more variable than head roll and that the head pitch distribution is asymmetrical with an over-representation of downward head pitch, consistent with ground-looking behavior. We further suggest that pitch and roll distributions can be used as empirical priors in a Bayesian framework to explain previously measured biases in perception of both roll and pitch. Gravitational and inertial acceleration stimulate the otoliths in an equivalent manner, so we also analyze the dynamics of human head orientation to better understand how knowledge of these dynamics can constrain solutions to the problem of gravitoinertial ambiguity. Gravitational acceleration dominates at low frequencies and inertial acceleration dominates at higher frequencies. The change in relative power of gravitational and inertial components as a function of frequency places empirical constraints on dynamic models of vestibular processing, including both frequency segregation and probabilistic internal model accounts. We conclude with a discussion of methodological considerations and scientific and applied domains that will benefit from continued measurement and analysis of natural head movements moving forward.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter A Hausamann
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Technical University of Munich, 80333, Munich, Germany
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4
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Sinnott C, Hausamann PA, MacNeilage PR. Natural statistics of human head orientation constrain models of vestibular processing. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2412413. [PMID: 36711500 PMCID: PMC9882651 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2412413/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Head orientation relative to gravity determines how gravity-dependent environmental structure is sampled by the visual system, as well as how gravity itself is sampled by the vestibular system. Therefore, both visual and vestibular sensory processing should be shaped by the statistics of head orientation relative to gravity. Here we report the statistics of human head orientation during unconstrained natural activities in humans for the first time, and we explore implications for models of vestibular processing. We find that the distribution of head pitch is more variable than head roll and that the head pitch distribution is asymmetrical with an over-representation of downward head pitch, consistent with ground-looking behavior. We further show that pitch and roll distributions can be used as empirical priors in a Bayesian framework to explain previously measured biases in perception of both roll and pitch. We also analyze the dynamics of human head orientation to better understand how gravitational and inertial acceleration are processed by the vestibular system. Gravitational acceleration dominates at low frequencies and inertial acceleration dominates at higher frequencies. The change in relative power of gravitational and inertial components as a function of frequency places empirical constraints on dynamic models of vestibular processing. We conclude with a discussion of methodological considerations and scientific and applied domains that will benefit from continued measurement and analysis of natural head movements moving forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Sinnott
- University of Nevada, Department of Psychology, Reno, 89557, United States of America,
| | - Peter A. Hausamann
- Technical University of Munich, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Munich, 80333, Germany
| | - Paul R. MacNeilage
- University of Nevada, Department of Psychology, Reno, 89557, United States of America
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5
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Yu J, Wan Y, Zhao J, Huang R, Wu P, Li W. Normative data for rotational chair considering motion susceptibility. Front Neurol 2022; 13:978442. [PMID: 36071903 PMCID: PMC9441918 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.978442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Rotational Chair Test (RCT) is considered one of the most critical measures for vestibular functionality, which generally includes the sinusoidal harmonic acceleration test (SHAT), velocity step test (VST), and visual suppression (VS). The purpose of this study was to establish normal values for different age groups on the RCT and investigate whether motion susceptibility, such as with a history of motion sickness or migraine, has any effects on test metrics. Methods One hundred and nine subjects aged from 20 to 59 years who were free from neurotological and vestibular disorders were enrolled. According to the history of motion sickness or migraine, participants were divided into four groups: the motion sickness (MS) group (n = 13), the migraine group (n = 8), comorbidity group (n = 11), and the control group (n = 77). The 77 subjects without any history of MS and migraine were then further separated into four age groups: youth group (20–29 years), young and middle-aged group (30–39 years), middle-age group (40–49 years), and middle-age and elderly group (50–59 years). All participants underwent SHAT, VST, and VS, and a comprehensive set of metrics including gain, phase, asymmetry, time constant (TC), and Fixation Index were recorded. Results Regarding the VST and VS, no significant differences were observed either across the four groups (MS, migraine, comorbidity, and control group) or four age categories within the control group. For SHAT, VOR gain at the frequency of 0.01 Hz, VOR phase from 0.08 to 0.64 Hz, and asymmetry at 0.01, 0.16, and 0.64 Hz indicated significant differences among various age groups (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). The VOR phase lead was lower in the migraine and comorbidity group than that in the control group at 0.64 Hz (P = 0.027, P = 0.003, respectively). Conclusions Age slightly affects the result of SHAT, but not for VST and VS. VOR gain is more susceptible to aging at low frequency, while the phase is opposite. Subjects with both migraine and motion sickness show abnormal velocity storage mechanisms. Phase bias should be considered when assessing motion susceptibility with the RCT. SHAT is more sensitive than VST in terms of reflecting motion susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaodan Yu
- Ear Nose Throat (ENT) Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Wan
- Ear Nose Throat (ENT) Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jieli Zhao
- Ear Nose Throat (ENT) Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruonan Huang
- Ear Nose Throat (ENT) Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Peixia Wu
- Ear Nose Throat (ENT) Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Nursing Department of Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Peixia Wu
| | - Wenyan Li
- Ear Nose Throat (ENT) Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The Institutes of Brain Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Wenyan Li
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6
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Madhani A, Lewis RF, Karmali F. How Peripheral Vestibular Damage Affects Velocity Storage: a Causative Explanation. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2022; 23:551-566. [PMID: 35768706 PMCID: PMC9437187 DOI: 10.1007/s10162-022-00853-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Velocity storage is a centrally-mediated mechanism that processes peripheral vestibular inputs. One prominent aspect of velocity storage is its effect on dynamic responses to yaw rotation. Specifically, when normal human subjects are accelerated to constant angular yaw velocity, horizontal eye movements and perceived angular velocity decay exponentially with a time constant circa 15-30 s, even though the input from the vestibular periphery decays much faster (~ 6 s). Peripheral vestibular damage causes a time constant reduction, which is useful for clinical diagnoses, but a mechanistic explanation for the relationship between vestibular damage and changes in these behavioral dynamics is lacking. It has been hypothesized that Bayesian optimization determines ideal velocity storage dynamics based on statistics of vestibular noise and experienced motion. Specifically, while a longer time constant would make the central estimate of angular head velocity closer to actual head motion, it may also result in the accumulation of neural noise which simultaneously degrades precision. Thus, the brain may balance these two effects by determining the time constant that optimizes behavior. We applied a Bayesian optimal Kalman filter to determine the ideal velocity storage time constant for unilateral damage. Predicted time constants were substantially lower than normal and similar to patients. Building on our past work showing that Bayesian optimization explains age-related changes in velocity storage, we also modeled interactions between age-related hair cell loss and peripheral damage. These results provide a plausible mechanistic explanation for changes in velocity storage after peripheral damage. Results also suggested that even after peripheral damage, noise originating in the periphery or early central processing may remain relevant in neurocomputations. Overall, our findings support the hypothesis that the brain optimizes velocity storage based on the vestibular signal-to-noise ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amsal Madhani
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Lab, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA USA
| | - Richard F. Lewis
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Lab, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Faisal Karmali
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Lab, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
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7
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Glasauer S, Straka H. Low Gain Values of the Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex Can Optimize Retinal Image Slip. Front Neurol 2022; 13:897293. [PMID: 35903124 PMCID: PMC9314766 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.897293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The angular vestibulo-ocular reflex (aVOR) stabilizes retinal images by counter-rotating the eyes during head rotations. Perfect compensatory movements would thus rotate the eyes exactly opposite to the head, that is, eyes vs. head would exhibit a unity gain. However, in many species, but also in elderly humans or patients with a history of vestibular damage, the aVOR is far from compensatory with gains that are in part considerably lower than unity. The reason for this apparent suboptimality is unknown. Here, we propose that low VOR gain values reflect an optimal adaptation to sensory and motor signal variability. According to this hypothesis, gaze stabilization mechanisms that aim at minimizing the overall retinal image slip must consider the effects of (1) sensory and motor noise and (2) dynamic constraints of peripheral and central nervous processing. We demonstrate that a computational model for optimizing retinal image slip in the presence of such constraints of signal processing in fact predicts gain values smaller than unity. We further show specifically for tadpoles of the clawed toad, Xenopus laevis with particularly low gain values that previously reported VOR gains quantitatively correspond to the observed variability of eye movements and thus constitute an optimal adaptation mechanism. We thus hypothesize that lower VOR gain values in elderly human subjects or recovered patients with a history of vestibular damage may be the sign of an optimization given higher noise levels rather than a direct consequence of the damage, such as an inability of executing fast compensatory eye movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Glasauer
- Computational Neuroscience, Institute of Medical Technology, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Cottbus, Germany
- Brandenburg Faculty for Health Sciences, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Cottbus, Germany
- *Correspondence: Stefan Glasauer
| | - Hans Straka
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg, Germany
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8
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Garobbio S, Pilz KS, Kunchulia M, Herzog MH. No Common Factor Underlying Decline of Visual Abilities in Mild Cognitive Impairment. Exp Aging Res 2022; 49:183-200. [PMID: 35786407 DOI: 10.1080/0361073x.2022.2094660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Recent work has shown an association between cognitive and visual impairments and two main theories were advanced, namely the sensory deprivation and the common cause theories. Most studies considered only basic visual functions such as visual acuity or visual field size and evaluated the association with dementia. OBJECTIVES To reconcile between these theories and to test the link between visual and cognitive decline in mildly cognitive impaired people. METHODS We employed a battery of 19 visual tasks on 39 older adults with mild cognitive impairment and 91 without any evidence of cognitive decline, as measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. RESULTS Our results show a strong association between visual impairment and mild cognitive impairment. In agreement with previous results with younger and healthy older adults, we found also only weak correlations between most tests in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that visual and cognitive abilities decline simultaneously, but they do so independently across visual and cognitive functions and across participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Garobbio
- a Laboratory of Psychophysics, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Karin S Pilz
- Cito Institute for Educational Measurement, Arnhem, The Netherlands
| | - Marina Kunchulia
- Institute of Cognitive Neurosciences, Free University of Tbilisi, and Laboratory of Vision Physiology, Ivane Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Michael H Herzog
- Laboratory of Psychophysics, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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9
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Gabriel GA, Harris LR, Gnanasegaram JJ, Cushing SL, Gordon KA, Haycock BC, Campos JL. Age-related changes to vestibular heave and pitch perception and associations with postural control. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6426. [PMID: 35440744 PMCID: PMC9018785 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09807-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Falls are a common cause of injury in older adults (OAs), and age-related declines across the sensory systems are associated with increased falls risk. The vestibular system is particularly important for maintaining balance and supporting safe mobility, and aging has been associated with declines in vestibular end-organ functioning. However, few studies have examined potential age-related differences in vestibular perceptual sensitivities or their association with postural stability. Here we used an adaptive-staircase procedure to measure detection and discrimination thresholds in 19 healthy OAs and 18 healthy younger adults (YAs), by presenting participants with passive heave (linear up-and-down translations) and pitch (forward-backward tilt rotations) movements on a motion-platform in the dark. We also examined participants' postural stability under various standing-balance conditions. Associations among these postural measures and vestibular perceptual thresholds were further examined. Ultimately, OAs showed larger heave and pitch detection thresholds compared to YAs, and larger perceptual thresholds were associated with greater postural sway, but only in OAs. Overall, these results suggest that vestibular perceptual sensitivity declines with older age and that such declines are associated with poorer postural stability. Future studies could consider the potential applicability of these results in the development of screening tools for falls prevention in OAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace A Gabriel
- KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 2A2, Canada
| | - Laurence R Harris
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Joshua J Gnanasegaram
- KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sharon L Cushing
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Archie's Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Karen A Gordon
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Archie's Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bruce C Haycock
- KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jennifer L Campos
- KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 2A2, Canada.
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10
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Kuo CH, Casimo K, Wu J, Collins K, Rice P, Chen BW, Yang SH, Lo YC, Novotny EJ, Weaver KE, Chen YY, Ojemann JG. Electrocorticography to Investigate Age-Related Brain Lateralization on Pediatric Motor Inhibition. Front Neurol 2022; 13:747053. [PMID: 35330804 PMCID: PMC8940229 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.747053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Response inhibition refers to the ability to suppress inappropriate actions that interfere with goal-driven behavior. The inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) is known to be associated with inhibition of a motor response by assuming executive control over motor cortex outputs. This study aimed to evaluate the pediatric development of response inhibition through subdural electrocorticography (ECoG) recording. Subdural ECoG recorded neural activities simultaneously during a Go/No-Go task, which was optimized for children. Different frequency power [theta: 4–8 Hz; beta: 12–40 Hz; high-gamma (HG): 70–200 Hz] was estimated within the IFG and motor cortex. Age-related analysis was computed by each bandpass power ratio between Go and No-Go conditions, and phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) over IFG by using the modulating index metric in two conditions. For all the eight pediatric patients, HG power was more activated in No-Go trials than in Go trials, in either right- or left-side IFG when available. In the IFG region, the power over theta and HG in No-Go conditions was higher than those in Go conditions, with significance over the right side (p < 0.05). The age-related lateralization from both sides to the right side was observed from the ratio of HG power and PAC value between the No-Go and Go trials. In the pediatric population, the role of motor inhibition was observed in both IFG, with age-related lateralization to the right side, which was proved in the previous functional magnetic resonance imaging studies. In this study, the evidence correlation of age and response inhibition was observed directly by the evidence of cortical recordings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Hung Kuo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kaitlyn Casimo
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Center for Neurotechnology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jing Wu
- Department of Bioengineering, Center for Neurotechnology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kelly Collins
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Patrick Rice
- Department of Psychology, Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Bo-Wei Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Hung Yang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chun Lo
- The Ph.D. Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Edward J Novotny
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kurt E Weaver
- Department of Radiology, Integrated Brain Imaging Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Center for Neurotechnology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - You-Yin Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,The Ph.D. Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jeffrey G Ojemann
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Center for Neurotechnology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Departments of Surgery, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, United States
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11
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McParlin Z, Cerritelli F, Friston KJ, Esteves JE. Therapeutic Alliance as Active Inference: The Role of Therapeutic Touch and Synchrony. Front Psychol 2022; 13:783694. [PMID: 35250723 PMCID: PMC8892201 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.783694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Recognizing and aligning individuals' unique adaptive beliefs or "priors" through cooperative communication is critical to establishing a therapeutic relationship and alliance. Using active inference, we present an empirical integrative account of the biobehavioral mechanisms that underwrite therapeutic relationships. A significant mode of establishing cooperative alliances-and potential synchrony relationships-is through ostensive cues generated by repetitive coupling during dynamic touch. Established models speak to the unique role of affectionate touch in developing communication, interpersonal interactions, and a wide variety of therapeutic benefits for patients of all ages; both neurophysiologically and behaviorally. The purpose of this article is to argue for the importance of therapeutic touch in establishing a therapeutic alliance and, ultimately, synchrony between practitioner and patient. We briefly overview the importance and role of therapeutic alliance in prosocial and clinical interactions. We then discuss how cooperative communication and mental state alignment-in intentional communication-are accomplished using active inference. We argue that alignment through active inference facilitates synchrony and communication. The ensuing account is extended to include the role of (C-) tactile afferents in realizing the beneficial effect of therapeutic synchrony. We conclude by proposing a method for synchronizing the effects of touch using the concept of active inference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe McParlin
- Foundation COME Collaboration, Clinical-Based Human Research Department, Pescara, Italy
| | - Francesco Cerritelli
- Foundation COME Collaboration, Clinical-Based Human Research Department, Pescara, Italy
| | - Karl J. Friston
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jorge E. Esteves
- Foundation COME Collaboration, Clinical-Based Human Research Department, Pescara, Italy
- Malta ICOM Educational Ltd., Gzira, Malta
- Research Department, University College of Osteopathy, London, United Kingdom
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12
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Bogle JM, Benarroch E, Sandroni P. Vestibular-autonomic interactions: beyond orthostatic dizziness. Curr Opin Neurol 2022; 35:126-134. [PMID: 34839339 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000001013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review aims to summarize the current literature describing vestibular-autonomic interactions and to describe their putative role in various disorders' clinical presentations, including orthostatic dizziness and motion sensitivity. RECENT FINDINGS The vestibular-autonomic reflexes have long been described as they relate to cardiovascular and respiratory function. Although orthostatic dizziness may be in part related to impaired vestibulo-sympathetic reflex (orthostatic hypotension), there are various conditions that may present similarly. A recent clinical classification aims to improve identification of individuals with hemodynamic orthostatic dizziness so that appropriate recommendations and management can be efficiently addressed. Researchers continue to improve understanding of the underlying vestibular-autonomic reflexes with recent studies noting the insular cortex as a cortical site for vestibular sensation and autonomic integration and modulation. Work has further expanded our understanding of the clinical presentation of abnormal vestibular-autonomic interactions that may occur in various conditions, such as aging, peripheral vestibular hypofunction, traumatic brain injury, and motion sensitivity. SUMMARY The vestibular-autonomic reflexes affect various sympathetic and parasympathetic functions. Understanding these relationships will provide improved identification of underlying etiology and drive improved patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie M Bogle
- Mayo Clinic Arizona, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Audiology, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | | | - Paola Sandroni
- Mayo Clinic Arizona, Department of Neurology, Division of Autonomic Disorders, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
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Kravets VG, Dixon JB, Ahmed NR, Clark TK. COMPASS: Computations for Orientation and Motion Perception in Altered Sensorimotor States. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:757817. [PMID: 34720889 PMCID: PMC8553968 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.757817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Reliable perception of self-motion and orientation requires the central nervous system (CNS) to adapt to changing environments, stimuli, and sensory organ function. The proposed computations required of neural systems for this adaptation process remain conceptual, limiting our understanding and ability to quantitatively predict adaptation and mitigate any resulting impairment prior to completing adaptation. Here, we have implemented a computational model of the internal calculations involved in the orientation perception system’s adaptation to changes in the magnitude of gravity. In summary, we propose that the CNS considers parallel, alternative hypotheses of the parameter of interest (in this case, the CNS’s internal estimate of the magnitude of gravity) and uses the associated sensory conflict signals (i.e., difference between sensory measurements and the expectation of them) to sequentially update the posterior probability of each hypothesis using Bayes rule. Over time, an updated central estimate of the internal magnitude of gravity emerges from the posterior probability distribution, which is then used to process sensory information and produce perceptions of self-motion and orientation. We have implemented these hypotheses in a computational model and performed various simulations to demonstrate quantitative model predictions of adaptation of the orientation perception system to changes in the magnitude of gravity, similar to those experienced by astronauts during space exploration missions. These model predictions serve as quantitative hypotheses to inspire future experimental assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria G Kravets
- Bioastronautics Laboratory, Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Jordan B Dixon
- Bioastronautics Laboratory, Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Nisar R Ahmed
- COHRINT Laboratory, Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Torin K Clark
- Bioastronautics Laboratory, Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
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14
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Diaz-Artiles A, Karmali F. Vestibular Precision at the Level of Perception, Eye Movements, Posture, and Neurons. Neuroscience 2021; 468:282-320. [PMID: 34087393 PMCID: PMC9188304 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Precision and accuracy are two fundamental properties of any system, including the nervous system. Reduced precision (i.e., imprecision) results from the presence of neural noise at each level of sensory, motor, and perceptual processing. This review has three objectives: (1) to show the importance of studying vestibular precision, and specifically that studying accuracy without studying precision ignores fundamental aspects of the vestibular system; (2) to synthesize key hypotheses about precision in vestibular perception, the vestibulo-ocular reflex, posture, and neurons; and (3) to show that groups of studies that are thoughts to be distinct (e.g., perceptual thresholds, subjective visual vertical variability, neuronal variability) are actually "two sides of the same coin" - because the methods used allow results to be related to the standard deviation of a Gaussian distribution describing the underlying neural noise. Vestibular precision varies with age, stimulus amplitude, stimulus frequency, body orientation, motion direction, pathology, medication, and electrical/mechanical vestibular stimulation, but does not vary with sex. The brain optimizes precision during integration of vestibular cues with visual, auditory, and/or somatosensory cues. Since a common concern with precision metrics is time required for testing, we describe approaches to optimize data collection and provide evidence that fatigue and session effects are minimal. Finally, we summarize how precision is an individual trait that is correlated with clinical outcomes in patients as well as with performance in functional tasks like balance. These findings highlight the importance of studying vestibular precision and accuracy, and that knowledge gaps remain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Diaz-Artiles
- Bioastronautics and Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3141, USA. https://bhp.engr.tamu.edu
| | - Faisal Karmali
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA.
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15
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Abstract
Even for a stereotyped task, sensorimotor behavior is generally variable due to noise, redundancy, adaptability, learning or plasticity. The sources and significance of different kinds of behavioral variability have attracted considerable attention in recent years. However, the idea that part of this variability depends on unique individual strategies has been explored to a lesser extent. In particular, the notion of style recurs infrequently in the literature on sensorimotor behavior. In general use, style refers to a distinctive manner or custom of behaving oneself or of doing something, especially one that is typical of a person, group of people, place, context, or period. The application of the term to the domain of perceptual and motor phenomenology opens new perspectives on the nature of behavioral variability, perspectives that are complementary to those typically considered in the studies of sensorimotor variability. In particular, the concept of style may help toward the development of personalised physiology and medicine by providing markers of individual behaviour and response to different stimuli or treatments. Here, we cover some potential applications of the concept of perceptual-motor style to different areas of neuroscience, both in the healthy and the diseased. We prefer to be as general as possible in the types of applications we consider, even at the expense of running the risk of encompassing loosely related studies, given the relative novelty of the introduction of the term perceptual-motor style in neurosciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Paul Vidal
- CNRS, SSA, ENS Paris Saclay, Université de Paris, Centre Borelli, 75005 Paris, France
- Institute of Information and Control, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Francesco Lacquaniti
- Department of Systems Medicine, Center of Space Biomedicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy
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16
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Caccese JB, Santos FV, Yamaguchi FK, Buckley TA, Jeka JJ. Persistent Visual and Vestibular Impairments for Postural Control Following Concussion: A Cross-Sectional Study in University Students. Sports Med 2021; 51:2209-2220. [PMID: 33881749 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-021-01472-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine how concussion may impair sensory processing for control of upright stance. METHODS Participants were recruited from a single university into 3 groups: 13 participants (8 women, 21 ± 3 years) between 2 weeks and 6 months post-injury who initiated a return-to-play progression (under physician management) by the time of testing (recent concussion group), 12 participants (7 women, 21 ± 1 years) with a history of concussion (concussion history group, > 1 year post-injury), and 26 participants (8 women, 22 ± 3 years) with no concussion history (control group). We assessed sensory reweighting by simultaneously perturbing participants' visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems and computed center of mass gain relative to each modality. The visual stimulus was a sinusoidal translation of the visual scene at 0.2 Hz, the vestibular stimulus was ± 1 mA binaural monopolar galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) at 0.36 Hz, the proprioceptive stimulus was Achilles' tendon vibration at 0.28 Hz. RESULTS The recent concussion (95% confidence interval 0.078-0.115, p = 0.001) and the concussion history (95% confidence interval 0.056-0.094, p = 0.038) groups had higher gains to the vestibular stimulus than the control group (95% confidence interval 0.040-0.066). The recent concussion (95% confidence interval 0.795-1.159, p = 0.002) and the concussion history (95% confidence interval 0.633-1.012, p = 0.018) groups had higher gains to the visual stimulus than the control group (95% confidence interval 0.494-0.752). There were no group differences in gains to the proprioceptive stimulus or in sensory reweighting. CONCLUSION Following concussion, participants responded more strongly to visual and vestibular stimuli during upright stance, suggesting they may have abnormal dependence on visual and vestibular feedback. These findings may indicate an area for targeted rehabilitation interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn B Caccese
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, 453 W. 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
| | | | - Felipe K Yamaguchi
- Department of Kinesiology & Applied Physiology and Interdisciplinary Biomechanics and Movement Science Program, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19713, USA
| | - Thomas A Buckley
- Department of Kinesiology & Applied Physiology and Interdisciplinary Biomechanics and Movement Science Program, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19713, USA
| | - John J Jeka
- Department of Kinesiology & Applied Physiology and Interdisciplinary Biomechanics and Movement Science Program, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19713, USA
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17
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Wagner AR, Akinsola O, Chaudhari AMW, Bigelow KE, Merfeld DM. Measuring Vestibular Contributions to Age-Related Balance Impairment: A Review. Front Neurol 2021; 12:635305. [PMID: 33633678 PMCID: PMC7900546 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.635305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is associated with progressive declines in both the vestibular and human balance systems. While vestibular lesions certainly contribute to imbalance, the specific contributions of age-related vestibular declines to age-related balance impairment is poorly understood. This gap in knowledge results from the absence of a standardized method for measuring age-related changes to the vestibular balance pathways. The purpose of this manuscript is to provide an overview of the existing body of literature as it pertains to the methods currently used to infer vestibular contributions to age-related imbalance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R. Wagner
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Olaoluwa Akinsola
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Ajit M. W. Chaudhari
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Kimberly E. Bigelow
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, United States
| | - Daniel M. Merfeld
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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18
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Vasil J, Badcock PB, Constant A, Friston K, Ramstead MJD. A World Unto Itself: Human Communication as Active Inference. Front Psychol 2020; 11:417. [PMID: 32269536 PMCID: PMC7109408 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent theoretical work in developmental psychology suggests that humans are predisposed to align their mental states with those of other individuals. One way this manifests is in cooperative communication; that is, intentional communication aimed at aligning individuals' mental states with respect to events in their shared environment. This idea has received strong empirical support. The purpose of this paper is to extend this account by proposing an integrative model of the biobehavioral dynamics of cooperative communication. Our formulation is based on active inference. Active inference suggests that action-perception cycles operate to minimize uncertainty and optimize an individual's internal model of the world. We propose that humans are characterized by an evolved adaptive prior belief that their mental states are aligned with, or similar to, those of conspecifics (i.e., that 'we are the same sort of creature, inhabiting the same sort of niche'). The use of cooperative communication emerges as the principal means to gather evidence for this belief, allowing for the development of a shared narrative that is used to disambiguate interactants' (hidden and inferred) mental states. Thus, by using cooperative communication, individuals effectively attune to a hermeneutic niche composed, in part, of others' mental states; and, reciprocally, attune the niche to their own ends via epistemic niche construction. This means that niche construction enables features of the niche to encode precise, reliable cues about the deontic or shared value of certain action policies (e.g., the utility of using communicative constructions to disambiguate mental states, given expectations about shared prior beliefs). In turn, the alignment of mental states (prior beliefs) enables the emergence of a novel, contextualizing scale of cultural dynamics that encompasses the actions and mental states of the ensemble of interactants and their shared environment. The dynamics of this contextualizing layer of cultural organization feedback, across scales, to constrain the variability of the prior expectations of the individuals who constitute it. Our theory additionally builds upon the active inference literature by introducing a new set of neurobiologically plausible computational hypotheses for cooperative communication. We conclude with directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared Vasil
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Paul B. Badcock
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Orygen, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Axel Constant
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- Culture, Mind, and Brain Program, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Karl Friston
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maxwell J. D. Ramstead
- Culture, Mind, and Brain Program, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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19
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Dixon JB, Clark TK. Sensorimotor impairment from a new analog of spaceflight-altered neurovestibular cues. J Neurophysiol 2020; 123:209-223. [PMID: 31747329 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00156.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to microgravity during spaceflight causes central reinterpretations of orientation sensory cues in astronauts, leading to sensorimotor impairment upon return to Earth. Currently there is no ground-based analog for the neurovestibular system relevant to spaceflight. We propose such an analog, which we term the "wheelchair head-immobilization paradigm" (WHIP). Subjects lie on their side on a bed fixed to a modified electric wheelchair, with their head restrained by a custom facemask. WHIP prevents any head tilt relative to gravity, which normally produces coupled stimulation to the otoliths and semicircular canals, but does not occur in microgravity. Decoupled stimulation is produced through translation and rotation on the wheelchair by the subject using a joystick. Following 12 h of WHIP exposure, subjects systematically felt illusory sensations of self-motion when making head tilts and had significant decrements in balance and locomotion function using tasks similar to those assessed in astronauts postspaceflight. These effects were not observed in our control groups without head restraint, suggesting the altered neurovestibular stimulation patterns experienced in WHIP lead to relevant central reinterpretations. We conclude by discussing the findings in light of postspaceflight sensorimotor impairment, WHIP's uses beyond a spaceflight analog, limitations, and future work.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We propose, implement, and demonstrate the feasibility of a new analog for spaceflight-altered neurovestibular stimulation. Following extended exposure to the analog, we found subjects reported illusory self-motion perception. Furthermore, they demonstrated decrements in balance and locomotion, using tasks similar to those used to assess astronaut sensorimotor performance postspaceflight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan B Dixon
- Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
| | - Torin K Clark
- Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
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20
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Kabbaligere R, Layne CS, Karmali F. Perception of threshold-level whole-body motion during mechanical mastoid vibration. J Vestib Res 2019; 28:283-294. [PMID: 30149483 DOI: 10.3233/ves-180636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vibration applied on the mastoid has been shown to be an excitatory stimulus to the vestibular receptors, but its effect on vestibular perception is unknown. OBJECTIVE Determine whether mastoid vibration affects yaw rotation perception using a self-motion perceptual direction-recognition task. METHODS We used continuous, bilateral, mechanical mastoid vibration using a stimulus with frequency content between 1 and 500 Hz. Vestibular perception of 10 healthy adults (M±S.D. = 34.3±12 years old) was tested with and without vibration. Subjects repeatedly reported the perceived direction of threshold-level yaw rotations administered at 1 Hz by a motorized platform. A cumulative Gaussian distribution function was fit to subjects' responses, which was described by two parameters: bias and threshold. Bias was defined as the mean of the Gaussian distribution, and equal to the motion perceived on average when exposed to null stimuli. Threshold was defined as the standard deviation of the distribution and corresponded to the stimulus the subject could reliably perceive. RESULTS The results show that mastoid vibration may reduce bias, although two statistical tests yield different conclusions. There was no evidence that yaw rotation thresholds were affected. CONCLUSIONS Bilateral mastoid vibration may reduce left-right asymmetry in motion perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakshatha Kabbaligere
- Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.,Center for Neuromotor and Biomechanics Research, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Charles S Layne
- Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.,Center for Neuromotor and Biomechanics Research, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.,Center for Neuro-Engineering and Cognitive Science, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Faisal Karmali
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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21
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Mackrous I, Carriot J, Jamali M, Cullen KE. Cerebellar Prediction of the Dynamic Sensory Consequences of Gravity. Curr Biol 2019; 29:2698-2710.e4. [PMID: 31378613 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
As we go about our everyday activities, our brain computes accurate estimates of both our motion relative to the world and our orientation relative to gravity. However, how the brain then accounts for gravity as we actively move and interact with our environment is not yet known. Here, we provide evidence that, although during passive movements, individual cerebellar output neurons encode representations of head motion and orientation relative to gravity, these gravity-driven responses are cancelled when head movement is a consequence of voluntary generated movement. In contrast, the gravity-driven responses of primary otolith and semicircular canal afferents remain intact during both active and passive self-motion, indicating the attenuated responses of central neurons are not inherited from afferent inputs. Taken together, our results are consistent with the view that the cerebellum builds a dynamic prediction (e.g., internal model) of the sensory consequences of gravity during active self-motion, which in turn enables the preferential encoding of unexpected motion to ensure postural and perceptual stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Mackrous
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, McIntyre Medical Building, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montréal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada.
| | - Jerome Carriot
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, McIntyre Medical Building, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montréal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada.
| | - Mohsen Jamali
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, McIntyre Medical Building, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montréal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada.
| | - Kathleen E Cullen
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, McIntyre Medical Building, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montréal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Rm. 720, Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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22
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Cullen KE. Vestibular processing during natural self-motion: implications for perception and action. Nat Rev Neurosci 2019; 20:346-363. [PMID: 30914780 PMCID: PMC6611162 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-019-0153-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
How the brain computes accurate estimates of our self-motion relative to the world and our orientation relative to gravity in order to ensure accurate perception and motor control is a fundamental neuroscientific question. Recent experiments have revealed that the vestibular system encodes this information during everyday activities using pathway-specific neural representations. Furthermore, new findings have established that vestibular signals are selectively combined with extravestibular information at the earliest stages of central vestibular processing in a manner that depends on the current behavioural goal. These findings have important implications for our understanding of the brain mechanisms that ensure accurate perception and behaviour during everyday activities and for our understanding of disorders of vestibular processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen E Cullen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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23
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Clark TK, Newman MC, Karmali F, Oman CM, Merfeld DM. Mathematical models for dynamic, multisensory spatial orientation perception. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2019; 248:65-90. [PMID: 31239146 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2019.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Mathematical models have been proposed for how the brain interprets sensory information to produce estimates of self-orientation and self-motion. This process, spatial orientation perception, requires dynamically integrating multiple sensory modalities, including visual, vestibular, and somatosensory cues. Here, we review the progress in mathematical modeling of spatial orientation perception, focusing on dynamic multisensory models, and the experimental paradigms in which they have been validated. These models are primarily "black box" or "as if" models for how the brain processes spatial orientation cues. Yet, they have been effective scientifically, in making quantitative hypotheses that can be empirically assessed, and operationally, in investigating aircraft pilot disorientation, for example. The primary family of models considered, the observer model, implements estimation theory approaches, hypothesizing that internal models (i.e., neural systems replicating the behavior/dynamics of physical systems) are used to produce expected sensory measurements. Expected signals are then compared to actual sensory afference, yielding sensory conflict, which is weighted to drive central perceptions of gravity, angular velocity, and translation. This approach effectively predicts a wide range of experimental scenarios using a small set of fixed free parameters. We conclude with limitations and applications of existing mathematical models and important areas of future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torin K Clark
- Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States.
| | - Michael C Newman
- Environmental Tectonics Corporation, Southampton, PA, United States
| | - Faisal Karmali
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, United States; Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Charles M Oman
- Human Systems Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Daniel M Merfeld
- Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States; Naval Aerospace Medical Research Lab (NAMRL), Naval Medical Research Unit-Dayton (NAMRUD), Dayton, OH, United States
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24
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Alberts BBGT, Selen LPJ, Medendorp WP. Age-related reweighting of visual and vestibular cues for vertical perception. J Neurophysiol 2019; 121:1279-1288. [PMID: 30699005 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00481.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
As we age, the acuity of our sensory organs declines, which may affect our lifestyle. Sensory deterioration in the vestibular system is typically bilateral and gradual, and could lead to problems with balance and spatial orientation. To compensate for the sensory deterioration, it has been suggested that the brain reweights the sensory information sources according to their relative noise characteristics. For rehabilitation and training programs, it is important to understand the consequences of this reweighting, preferably at the individual subject level. We psychometrically examined the age-dependent reweighting of visual and vestibular cues used in spatial orientation in a group of 32 subjects (age range: 19-76 yr). We asked subjects to indicate the orientation of a line (clockwise or counterclockwise relative to the gravitational vertical) presented within an oriented square visual frame when seated upright or with their head tilted 30° relative to the body. Results show that subjects' vertical perception is biased by the orientation of the visual frame. Both the magnitude of this bias and response variability become larger with increasing age. Deducing the underlying sensory noise characteristics, using Bayesian inference, suggests an age-dependent reweighting of sensory information, with an increasing weight of the visual contextual information. Further scrutiny of the model suggests that this shift in sensory weights is the result of an increase in the noise of the vestibular signal. Our approach quantifies how noise properties of visual and vestibular systems change over the life span, which helps to understand the aging process at the neurocomputational level. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Perception of visual vertical involves a weighted fusion of visual and vestibular tilt cues. Using a Bayesian approach and experimental psychophysics, we quantify how this fusion process changes with age. We show that, with age, the vestibular information is down-weighted whereas the visual weight is increased. This shift in sensory reweighting is primarily due to an age-related increase of the noise of vestibular signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart B G T Alberts
- Radboud University , Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen , The Netherlands
| | - Luc P J Selen
- Radboud University , Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen , The Netherlands
| | - W Pieter Medendorp
- Radboud University , Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen , The Netherlands
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25
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The velocity storage time constant: Balancing between accuracy and precision. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2019; 248:269-276. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2019.04.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
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Ji L, Zhai S. Aging and the peripheral vestibular system. J Otol 2018; 13:138-140. [PMID: 30671091 PMCID: PMC6335476 DOI: 10.1016/j.joto.2018.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Whereas much has been learned about age-related auditory changes in the inner ear, relatively little is known about the aging effects on the vestibular part of the inner ear-the peripheral vestibular system. Here we review relevant literature with regard to the prevalence of vestibular dysfunction, vestibular functional and structural changes in the elderly. The prevalence of vestibular dysfunction increases with age. Functionally, as age increases, VEMP amplitudes decrease, VEMP thresholds increase, VOR gain of HIT decreases. Due to the complexity of the vestibular system, variations in subject age and measurement techniques, findings in VEMP latency and caloric tests are conflicting. To address this, a direct measure of the peripheral vestibular system should be applied. Structurally, age-related loss in vestibular ganglion and otoconia have been noted; hair cell changes are not well defined; while subcellular changes remain to be explored. Defining how the onset of vestibular dysfunction correlates with structural degeneration will offer insights into the mechanisms underlying vestibular aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingchao Ji
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Suoqiang Zhai
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China.,Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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Rosenberg MJ, Galvan-Garza RC, Clark TK, Sherwood DP, Young LR, Karmali F. Human manual control precision depends on vestibular sensory precision and gravitational magnitude. J Neurophysiol 2018; 120:3187-3197. [PMID: 30379610 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00565.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Precise motion control is critical to human survival on Earth and in space. Motion sensation is inherently imprecise, and the functional implications of this imprecision are not well understood. We studied a "vestibular" manual control task in which subjects attempted to keep themselves upright with a rotational hand controller (i.e., joystick) to null out pseudorandom, roll-tilt motion disturbances of their chair in the dark. Our first objective was to study the relationship between intersubject differences in manual control performance and sensory precision, determined by measuring vestibular perceptual thresholds. Our second objective was to examine the influence of altered gravity on manual control performance. Subjects performed the manual control task while supine during short-radius centrifugation, with roll tilts occurring relative to centripetal accelerations of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.33 GC (1 GC = 9.81 m/s2). Roll-tilt vestibular precision was quantified with roll-tilt vestibular direction-recognition perceptual thresholds, the minimum movement that one can reliably distinguish as leftward vs. rightward. A significant intersubject correlation was found between manual control performance (defined as the standard deviation of chair tilt) and thresholds, consistent with sensory imprecision negatively affecting functional precision. Furthermore, compared with 1.0 GC manual control was more precise in 1.33 GC (-18.3%, P = 0.005) and less precise in 0.5 GC (+39.6%, P < 0.001). The decrement in manual control performance observed in 0.5 GC and in subjects with high thresholds suggests potential risk factors for piloting and locomotion, both on Earth and during human exploration missions to the moon (0.16 G) and Mars (0.38 G). NEW & NOTEWORTHY The functional implications of imprecise motion sensation are not well understood. We found a significant correlation between subjects' vestibular perceptual thresholds and performance in a manual control task (using a joystick to keep their chair upright), consistent with sensory imprecision negatively affecting functional precision. Furthermore, using an altered-gravity centrifuge configuration, we found that manual control precision was improved in "hypergravity" and degraded in "hypogravity." These results have potential relevance for postural control, aviation, and spaceflight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa J Rosenberg
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Lab, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts.,KBRwyle Science, Technology and Engineering, NASA Johnson Space Center , Houston, Texas.,Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston, Texas
| | - Raquel C Galvan-Garza
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Lab, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts.,Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Torin K Clark
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Lab, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts.,Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts.,University of Colorado at Boulder , Boulder, Colorado
| | - David P Sherwood
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Laurence R Young
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Faisal Karmali
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Lab, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts.,Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts
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Hand movement illusions show changes in sensory reliance and preservation of multisensory integration with age for kinaesthesia. Neuropsychologia 2018; 119:45-58. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Variability in the Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex and Vestibular Perception. Neuroscience 2018; 393:350-365. [PMID: 30189227 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The vestibular system enables humans to estimate self-motion, stabilize gaze and maintain posture, but these behaviors are impacted by neural noise at all levels of processing (e.g., sensory, central, motor). Despite its essential importance, the behavioral impact of noise in human vestibular pathways is not completely understood. Here, we characterize the vestibular imprecision that results from neural noise by measuring trial-to-trial vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) variability and perceptual just-noticeable differences (JNDs) in the same human subjects as a function of stimulus intensity. We used head-centered yaw rotations about an Earth-vertical axis over a broad range of motion velocities (0-65°/s for VOR variability and 3-90°/s peak velocity for JNDs). We found that VOR variability increased from approximately 0.6°/s at a chair velocity of 1°/s to approximately 3°/s at 65°/s; it exhibited a stimulus-independent range below roughly 1°/s. Perceptual imprecision ("sigma") increased from 0.76°/s at 3°/s to 4.7°/s at 90°/s. Using stimuli that manipulated the relationship between velocity, displacement and acceleration, we found that velocity was the salient cue for VOR variability for our motion stimuli. VOR and perceptual imprecision both increased with stimulus intensity and were broadly similar over a range of stimulus velocities, consistent with a common noise source that affects motor and perceptual pathways. This contrasts with differing perceptual and motor stimulus-dependent imprecision in visual studies. Either stimulus-dependent noise or non-linear signal processing could explain our results, but we argue that afferent non-linearities alone are unlikely to be the source of the observed behavioral stimulus-dependent imprecision.
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Krause Neto W, Silva WDA, Ciena AP, de Souza RR, Anaruma CA, Gama EF. Aging Induces Changes in the Somatic Nerve and Postsynaptic Component without Any Alterations in Skeletal Muscles Morphology and Capacity to Carry Load of Wistar Rats. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:688. [PMID: 29326543 PMCID: PMC5741656 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to analyze the morphology of the peripheral nerve, postsynaptic compartment, skeletal muscles and weight-bearing capacity of Wistar rats at specific ages. Twenty rats were divided into groups: 10 months-old (ADULT) and 24 months-old (OLD). After euthanasia, we prepared and analyzed the tibial nerve using transmission electron microscopy and the soleus and plantaris muscles for cytofluorescence and histochemistry. For the comparison of the results between groups we used dependent and independent Student's t-test with level of significance set at p ≤ 0.05. For the tibial nerve, the OLD group presented the following alterations compared to the ADULT group: larger area and diameter of both myelinated fibers and axons, smaller area occupied by myelinated and unmyelinated axons, lower numerical density of myelinated fibers, and fewer myelinated fibers with normal morphology. Both aged soleus and plantaris end-plate showed greater total perimeter, stained perimeter, total area and stained area compared to ADULT group (p < 0.05). Yet, aged soleus end-plate presented greater dispersion than ADULT samples (p < 0.05). For the morphology of soleus and plantaris muscles, density of the interstitial volume was greater in the OLD group (p < 0.05). No statistical difference was found between groups in the weight-bearing tests. The results of the present study demonstrated that the aging process induces changes in the peripheral nerve and postsynaptic compartment without any change in skeletal muscles and ability to carry load in Wistar rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Krause Neto
- Laboratory of Morphoquantitative Studies and Immunohistochemistry, Department of Physical Education, São Judas Tadeu University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Wellington de Assis Silva
- Laboratory of Morphoquantitative Studies and Immunohistochemistry, Department of Physical Education, São Judas Tadeu University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adriano P Ciena
- Laboratory of Morphology and Physical Activity, Department of Physical Education, São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, Brazil
| | - Romeu R de Souza
- Laboratory of Morphoquantitative Studies and Immunohistochemistry, Department of Physical Education, São Judas Tadeu University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carlos A Anaruma
- Laboratory of Morphology and Physical Activity, Department of Physical Education, São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, Brazil
| | - Eliane F Gama
- Laboratory of Morphoquantitative Studies and Immunohistochemistry, Department of Physical Education, São Judas Tadeu University, São Paulo, Brazil
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