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Tadokoro S, Shinji Y, Yamanaka T, Hirata Y. Learning capabilities to resolve tilt-translation ambiguity in goldfish. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1304496. [PMID: 38774058 PMCID: PMC11106485 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1304496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Spatial orientation refers to the perception of relative location and self-motion in space. The accurate formation of spatial orientation is essential for animals to survive and interact safely with their environment. The formation of spatial orientation involves the integration of sensory inputs from the vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive systems. Vestibular organs function as specialized head motion sensors, providing information regarding angular velocity and linear acceleration via the semicircular canals and otoliths, respectively. However, because forces arising from the linear acceleration (translation) and inclination relative to the gravitational axis (tilt) are equivalent, they are indistinguishable by accelerometers, including otoliths. This is commonly referred to as the tilt - translation ambiguity, which can occasionally lead to the misinterpretation of translation as a tilt. The major theoretical frameworks addressing this issue have proposed that the interpretation of tilt versus translation may be contingent on an animal's previous experiences of motion. However, empirical confirmation of this hypothesis is lacking. Methods In this study, we conducted a behavioral experiment using goldfish to investigate how an animal's motion experience influences its interpretation of tilt vs. translation. We examined a reflexive eye movement called the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), which compensatory-rotates the eyes in response to head motion and is known to reflect an animal's three-dimensional head motion estimate. Results We demonstrated that the VORs of naïve goldfish do not differentiate between translation and tilt at 0.5 Hz. However, following prolonged visual-translation training, which provided appropriate visual stimulation in conjunction with translational head motion, the VORs were capable of distinguishing between the two types of head motion within 3 h. These results were replicated using the Kalman filter model of spatial orientation, which incorporated the variable variance of process noise corresponding to the accumulated motion experience. Discussion Based on these experimental and computational findings, we discuss the neural mechanism underlying the resolution of tilt-translation ambiguity within a context analogous to, yet distinct from, previous cross-axis VOR adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Tadokoro
- Department of Robotic Science and Technology, Graduate School of Engineering, Chubu University, Kasugai, Japan
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan
- Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Ichigaya, Japan
| | - Yusuke Shinji
- Department of Computer Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Chubu University, Kasugai, Japan
| | - Toshimi Yamanaka
- Department of Robotic Science and Technology, Graduate School of Engineering, Chubu University, Kasugai, Japan
| | - Yutaka Hirata
- Department of Robotic Science and Technology, Graduate School of Engineering, Chubu University, Kasugai, Japan
- Center for Mathematical Science and Artificial Intelligence, Chubu University, Kasugai, Japan
- Academy of Emerging Sciences, Chubu University, Kasugai, Japan
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2
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Clark TK, Galvan-Garza RC, Merfeld DM. Intra-individual consistency of vestibular perceptual thresholds. Atten Percept Psychophys 2024; 86:1417-1434. [PMID: 38658516 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-024-02886-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Vestibular perceptual thresholds quantify sensory noise associated with reliable perception of small self-motions. Previous studies have identified substantial variation between even healthy individuals' thresholds. However, it remains unclear if or how an individual's vestibular threshold varies over repeated measures across various time scales (repeated measurements on the same day, across days, weeks, or months). Here, we assessed yaw rotation and roll tilt thresholds in four individuals and compared this intra-individual variability to inter-individual variability of thresholds measured across a large age-matched cohort each measured only once. For analysis, we performed simulations of threshold measurements where there was no underlying variability (or it was manipulated) to compare to that observed empirically. We found remarkable consistency in vestibular thresholds within individuals, for both yaw rotation and roll tilt; this contrasts with substantial inter-individual differences. Thus, we conclude that vestibular perceptual thresholds are an innate characteristic, which validates pooling measures across sessions and potentially serves as a stable clinical diagnostic and/or biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torin K Clark
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Lab, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Man Vehicle Laboratory, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Bioastronautics Laboratory, Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado-Boulder, 3375 Discovery Dr. AERO N301, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA.
| | - Raquel C Galvan-Garza
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Lab, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Man Vehicle Laboratory, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Daniel M Merfeld
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Lab, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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3
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Hannigan IP, Rosengren SM, Bharathy GK, Prasad M, Welgampola MS, Watson SRD. Subjective and objective responses to caloric stimulation help separate vestibular migraine from other vestibular disorders. J Neurol 2024; 271:887-898. [PMID: 37847290 PMCID: PMC10828018 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-12027-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nystagmus generated during bithermal caloric test assesses the horizontal vestibulo-ocular-reflex. Any induced symptoms are considered unwanted side effects rather than diagnostic information. AIM We hypothesized that nystagmus slow-phase-velocity (SPV) and subjective symptoms during caloric testing would be higher in vestibular migraine (VM) patients compared with peripheral disorders such as Meniere's disease (MD) and non-vestibular dizziness (NVD). METHODS Consecutive patients (n = 1373, 60% female) referred for caloric testing were recruited. During caloric irrigations, patients scored their subjective sensations. We assessed objective-measures, subjective vertigo (SVS), subjective nausea (SNS), and test completion status. RESULTS Nystagmus SPV for VM, MD (unaffected side), and NVD were 29 ± 12.8, 30 ± 15.4, and 28 ± 14.2 for warm irrigation and 24 ± 8.9, 22 ± 10.0, and 25 ± 12.8 for cold-irrigation. The mean SVS were 2.5 ± 1.1, 1.5 ± 1.33, and 1.5 ± 1.42 for warm irrigation and 2.2 ± 1.1, 1.1 ± 1.19, and 1.1 ± 1.16 for cold-irrigation. Age was significantly correlated with SVS and SNS, (p < 0.001) for both. The SVS and SNS were significantly higher in VM compared with non-VM groups (p < 0.001), and there was no difference in nystagmus SPV. VM patients SVS was significantly different to the SVS of migraineurs in the other diagnostic groups (p < 0.001). Testing was incomplete for 34.4% of VM and 3.2% of MD patients. To separate VM from MD, we computed a composite value representing the caloric data, with 83% sensitivity and 71% specificity. Application of machine learning to these metrics plus patient demographics yielded better separation (96% sensitivity and 85% specificity). CONCLUSION Perceptual differences between VM and non-VM patients during caloric stimulation indicate that subjective ratings during caloric testing are meaningful measures. Combining objective and subjective measures could provide optimal separation of VM from MD.
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Affiliation(s)
- I P Hannigan
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006, Australia
- Blacktown Neurology Clinic, Blacktown, NSW, 2148, Australia
| | - S M Rosengren
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006, Australia
- Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, 2006, Australia
| | - G K Bharathy
- School of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, 2007, Australia
| | - M Prasad
- School of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, 2007, Australia
| | - M S Welgampola
- Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006, Australia
- Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, 2006, Australia
| | - S R D Watson
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Randwick, 2013, Australia.
- Blacktown Neurology Clinic, Blacktown, NSW, 2148, Australia.
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4
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Geno O, Critelli K, Arduino C, Crane BT, Anson ER. Psychometrics of inertial heading perception. J Vestib Res 2024; 34:83-92. [PMID: 38640182 DOI: 10.3233/ves-230077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inertial self-motion perception is thought to depend primarily on otolith cues. Recent evidence demonstrated that vestibular perceptual thresholds (including inertial heading) are adaptable, suggesting novel clinical approaches for treating perceptual impairments resulting from vestibular disease. OBJECTIVE Little is known about the psychometric properties of perceptual estimates of inertial heading like test-retest reliability. Here we investigate the psychometric properties of a passive inertial heading perceptual test. METHODS Forty-seven healthy subjects participated across two visits, performing in an inertial heading discrimination task. The point of subjective equality (PSE) and thresholds for heading discrimination were identified for the same day and across day tests. Paired t-tests determined if the PSE or thresholds significantly changed and a mixed interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) model examined test-retest reliability. Minimum detectable change (MDC) was calculated for PSE and threshold for heading discrimination. RESULTS Within a testing session, the heading discrimination PSE score test-retest reliability was good (ICC = 0. 80) and did not change (t(1,36) = -1.23, p = 0.23). Heading discrimination thresholds were moderately reliable (ICC = 0.67) and also stable (t(1,36) = 0.10, p = 0.92). Across testing sessions, heading direction PSE scores were moderately correlated (ICC = 0.59) and stable (t(1,46) = -0.44, p = 0.66). Heading direction thresholds had poor reliability (ICC = 0.03) and were significantly smaller at the second visit (t(1,46) = 2.8, p = 0.008). MDC for heading direction PSE ranged from 6-9 degrees across tests. CONCLUSION The current results indicate moderate reliability for heading perception PSE and provide clinical context for interpreting change in inertial vestibular self-motion perception over time or after an intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Geno
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester, Rochester NY, USA
| | - Kyle Critelli
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Rochester, Rochester NY, USA
| | - Cesar Arduino
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Rochester, Rochester NY, USA
| | - Benjamin T Crane
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester, Rochester NY, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Rochester, Rochester NY, USA
| | - Eric R Anson
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester, Rochester NY, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Rochester, Rochester NY, USA
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5
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Gonzalez ELC, King SA, Karmali F. Your Vestibular Thresholds May Be Lower Than You Think: Cognitive Biases in Vestibular Psychophysics. Am J Audiol 2023; 32:730-738. [PMID: 37084775 PMCID: PMC10721247 DOI: 10.1044/2023_aja-22-00186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Recently, there has been a surge of interest in measuring vestibular perceptual thresholds, which quantify the smallest motion that a subject can reliably perceive, to study physiology and pathophysiology. These thresholds are sensitive to age, pathology, and postural performance. Threshold tasks require decisions to be made in the presence of uncertainty. Since humans often rely on past information when making decisions in the presence of uncertainty, we hypothesized that (a) perceptual responses are affected by their preceding trial; (b) perceptual responses tend to be biased opposite of the "preceding response" because of cognitive biases but are not biased by the "preceding stimulus"; and (c) when fits do not account for this cognitive bias, thresholds are overestimated. To our knowledge, these hypotheses are unaddressed in vestibular and direction-recognition tasks. CONCLUSIONS Results in normal subjects supported each hypothesis. Subjects tended to respond opposite of their preceding response (not the preceding stimulus), indicating a cognitive bias, and this caused an overestimation of thresholds. Using an enhanced model (MATLAB code provided) that considered these effects, average thresholds were lower (5.5% for yaw, 7.1% for interaural). Since the results indicate that the magnitude of cognitive bias varies across subjects, this enhanced model can reduce measurement variability and potentially improve the efficiency of data collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Lopez-Contreras Gonzalez
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Susan A. King
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston
| | - Faisal Karmali
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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Irmak T, Pool DM, de Winkel KN, Happee R. Validating models of sensory conflict and perception for motion sickness prediction. BIOLOGICAL CYBERNETICS 2023; 117:185-209. [PMID: 36971844 DOI: 10.1007/s00422-023-00959-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The human motion perception system has long been linked to motion sickness through state estimation conflict terms. However, to date, the extent to which available perception models are able to predict motion sickness, or which of the employed perceptual mechanisms are of most relevance to sickness prediction, has not been studied. In this study, the subjective vertical model, the multi-sensory observer model and the probabilistic particle filter model were all validated for their ability to predict motion perception and sickness, across a large set of motion paradigms of varying complexity from literature. It was found that even though the models provided a good match for the perception paradigms studied, they could not be made to capture the full range of motion sickness observations. The resolution of the gravito-inertial ambiguity has been identified to require further attention, as key model parameters selected to match perception data did not optimally match motion sickness data. Two additional mechanisms that may enable better future predictive models of sickness have, however, been identified. Firstly, active estimation of the magnitude of gravity appears to be instrumental for predicting motion sickness induced by vertical accelerations. Secondly, the model analysis showed that the influence of the semicircular canals on the somatogravic effect may explain the differences in the dynamics observed for motion sickness induced by vertical and horizontal plane accelerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tugrul Irmak
- Delft University of Technology Cognitive Robotics Department, Leeghwaterstraat, Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Daan M Pool
- Delft University of Technology Cognitive Robotics Department, Leeghwaterstraat, Delft, The Netherlands
- Control and Simulation Department, Delft University of Technology, Leeghwaterstraat, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Ksander N de Winkel
- Delft University of Technology Cognitive Robotics Department, Leeghwaterstraat, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Riender Happee
- Delft University of Technology Cognitive Robotics Department, Leeghwaterstraat, Delft, The Netherlands
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7
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Lacquaniti F, La Scaleia B, Zago M. Noise and vestibular perception of passive self-motion. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1159242. [PMID: 37181550 PMCID: PMC10169592 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1159242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Noise defined as random disturbances is ubiquitous in both the external environment and the nervous system. Depending on the context, noise can degrade or improve information processing and performance. In all cases, it contributes to neural systems dynamics. We review some effects of various sources of noise on the neural processing of self-motion signals at different stages of the vestibular pathways and the resulting perceptual responses. Hair cells in the inner ear reduce the impact of noise by means of mechanical and neural filtering. Hair cells synapse on regular and irregular afferents. Variability of discharge (noise) is low in regular afferents and high in irregular units. The high variability of irregular units provides information about the envelope of naturalistic head motion stimuli. A subset of neurons in the vestibular nuclei and thalamus are optimally tuned to noisy motion stimuli that reproduce the statistics of naturalistic head movements. In the thalamus, variability of neural discharge increases with increasing motion amplitude but saturates at high amplitudes, accounting for behavioral violation of Weber's law. In general, the precision of individual vestibular neurons in encoding head motion is worse than the perceptual precision measured behaviorally. However, the global precision predicted by neural population codes matches the high behavioral precision. The latter is estimated by means of psychometric functions for detection or discrimination of whole-body displacements. Vestibular motion thresholds (inverse of precision) reflect the contribution of intrinsic and extrinsic noise to perception. Vestibular motion thresholds tend to deteriorate progressively after the age of 40 years, possibly due to oxidative stress resulting from high discharge rates and metabolic loads of vestibular afferents. In the elderly, vestibular thresholds correlate with postural stability: the higher the threshold, the greater is the postural imbalance and risk of falling. Experimental application of optimal levels of either galvanic noise or whole-body oscillations can ameliorate vestibular function with a mechanism reminiscent of stochastic resonance. Assessment of vestibular thresholds is diagnostic in several types of vestibulopathies, and vestibular stimulation might be useful in vestibular rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Lacquaniti
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
- Department of Systems Medicine, Centre of Space Bio-medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara La Scaleia
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Myrka Zago
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
- Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Science Engineering, Centre of Space Bio-medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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8
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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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9
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Tseng CH, Chow HM, Spillmann L, Oxner M, Sakurai K. Body Pitch Together With Translational Body Motion Biases the Subjective Haptic Vertical. Multisens Res 2022; 36:1-29. [PMID: 36731530 DOI: 10.1163/22134808-bja10086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Accurate perception of verticality is critical for postural maintenance and successful physical interaction with the world. Although previous research has examined the independent influences of body orientation and self-motion under well-controlled laboratory conditions, these factors are constantly changing and interacting in the real world. In this study, we examine the subjective haptic vertical in a real-world scenario. Here, we report a bias of verticality perception in a field experiment on the Hong Kong Peak Tram as participants traveled on a slope ranging from 6° to 26°. Mean subjective haptic vertical (SHV) increased with slope by as much as 15°, regardless of whether the eyes were open (Experiment 1) or closed (Experiment 2). Shifting the body pitch by a fixed degree in an effort to compensate for the mountain slope failed to reduce the verticality bias (Experiment 3). These manipulations separately rule out visual and vestibular inputs about absolute body pitch as contributors to our observed bias. Observations collected on a tram traveling on level ground (Experiment 4A) or in a static dental chair with a range of inclinations similar to those encountered on the mountain tram (Experiment 4B) showed no significant deviation of the subjective vertical from gravity. We conclude that the SHV error is due to a combination of large, dynamic body pitch and translational motion. These observations made in a real-world scenario represent an incentive to neuroscientists and aviation experts alike for studying perceived verticality under field conditions and raising awareness of dangerous misperceptions of verticality when body pitch and translational self-motion come together.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Huei Tseng
- Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
| | - Hiu Mei Chow
- Department of Psychology, St. Thomas University, Fredericton, E3B 5G3, Canada
| | - Lothar Spillmann
- Neurology Clinic, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Matt Oxner
- Wilhelm Wundt Institute for Psychology, University of Leipzig, 04109 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kenzo Sakurai
- Department of Human Science, Tohoku Gakuin University, Sendai, 981-3193, Japan
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10
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Laurens J. The otolith vermis: A systems neuroscience theory of the Nodulus and Uvula. Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 16:886284. [PMID: 36185824 PMCID: PMC9520001 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.886284] [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: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The Nodulus and Uvula (NU) (lobules X and IX of the cerebellar vermis) form a prominent center of vestibular information processing. Over decades, fundamental and clinical research on the NU has uncovered many aspects of its function. Those include the resolution of a sensory ambiguity inherent to inertial sensors in the inner ear, the otolith organs; the use of gravity signals to sense head rotations; and the differential processing of self-generated and externally imposed head motion. Here, I review these works in the context of a theoretical framework of information processing called the internal model hypothesis. I propose that the NU implements a forward internal model to predict the activation of the otoliths, and outputs sensory predictions errors to correct internal estimates of self-motion or to drive learning. I show that a Kalman filter based on this framework accounts for various functions of the NU, neurophysiological findings, as well as the clinical consequences of NU lesions. This highlights the role of the NU in processing information from the otoliths and supports its denomination as the "otolith" vermis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Laurens
- Ernst Strüngmann Institute (ESI) for Neuroscience in Cooperation with Max Planck Society, Frankfurt, Germany
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11
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Wagner AR, Kobel MJ, Tajino J, Merfeld DM. Improving self-motion perception and balance through roll tilt perceptual training. J Neurophysiol 2022; 128:619-633. [PMID: 35894439 PMCID: PMC9448335 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00092.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to determine if a vestibular perceptual learning intervention could improve roll tilt self-motion perception and balance performance. Two intervention groups (n = 10 each) performed 1,300 trials of roll tilt at either 0.5 Hz (2 s/motion) or 0.2 Hz (5 s/motion) distributed over 5 days; each intervention group was provided feedback (correct/incorrect) after each trial. Roll tilt perceptual thresholds, measured using 0.2-, 0.5-, and 1-Hz stimuli, as well as quiet stance postural sway, were measured on day 1 and day 6 of the study. The control group (n = 10) who performed no perceptual training, showed stable 0.2-Hz (+1.48%, P > 0.99), 0.5-Hz (-4.0%, P > 0.99), and 1-Hz (-17.48%, P = 0.20) roll tilt thresholds. The 0.2-Hz training group demonstrated significant improvements in both 0.2-Hz (-23.77%, P = 0.003) and 0.5-Hz (-22.2%, P = 0.03) thresholds. The 0.5-Hz training group showed a significant improvement in 0.2-Hz thresholds (-19.13%, P = 0.029), but not 0.5-Hz thresholds (-17.68%, P = 0.052). Neither training group improved significantly at the untrained 1-Hz frequency (P > 0.05). In addition to improvements in perceptual precision, the 0.5-Hz training group showed a decrease in sway when measured during "eyes open, on foam" (dz = 0.57, P = 0.032) and "eyes closed, on foam" (dz = 2.05, P < 0.001) quiet stance balance tasks. These initial data suggest that roll tilt perception can be improved with less than 5 h of training and that vestibular perceptual training may contribute to a reduction in subclinical postural instability.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Roll tilt vestibular perceptual thresholds, an assay of vestibular noise, were recently found to correlate with postural sway. We therefore hypothesized that roll tilt perceptual training would yield improvements in both perceptual precision and balance. Our data show that roll tilt perceptual thresholds and quiet stance postural sway can be significantly improved after less than 5 h of roll tilt perceptual training, supporting the hypothesis that vestibular noise contributes to increased postural sway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Wagner
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Megan J Kobel
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Junichi Tajino
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Daniel M Merfeld
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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12
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Adaptive perceptual responses to asymmetric rotation for testing otolithic function. Exp Brain Res 2022; 240:2017-2025. [PMID: 35716191 PMCID: PMC9288376 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-022-06393-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to test the role of the otolithic system in self-motion perception by examining adaptive responses to asymmetric off-axis vertical rotation. Self-movement perception was examined after a conditioning procedure consisting of prolonged asymmetric sinusoidal yaw rotation of the head on a stationary body with hemicycle faster than the other hemicycle. This asymmetric velocity rotation results in a cumulative error in spatial self-motion perception in the upright position that persists over time. Head yaw rotation conditioning was performed in different head positions: in the upright position to activate semicircular canals and in the supine and prone positions to activate both semicircular canals and otoliths with the phase of otolithic stimulation reversed with respect to activation of the semicircular canals. The asymmetric conditioning influenced the cumulative error induced by four asymmetric cycles of whole-body vertical axis yaw rotation. The magnitude of this error depended on the orientation of the head during the conditioning. The error increased by 50% after upright position conditioning, by 100% in the supine position, and decreased by 30% in the prone position. The enhancement and reduction of the perceptual error are attributed to otolithic modulation because of gravity influence of the otoliths during the conditioning procedure in supine and prone positions. These findings indicate that asymmetric velocity otolithic activation induces adaptive perceptual errors such as those induced by semicircular canals alone, and this adaptation may be useful in testing dynamic otolithic perceptual responses under different conditions of vestibular dysfunction.
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Pleshkov M, Rondas N, Lucieer F, van Stiphout L, Janssen M, Guinand N, Perez-Fornos A, Demkin V, van Rompaey V, Kingma H, van de Berg R. Reported thresholds of self-motion perception are influenced by testing paradigm. J Neurol 2022; 269:5755-5761. [PMID: 35294617 PMCID: PMC9553771 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-022-11032-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Background/objective Different testing paradigms have been proposed to investigate perceptual self-motion thresholds. They can differ regarding the amount of possible motions that patients have to choose from. Objective of this study was to compare the two-option paradigm and twelve-option paradigm, to investigate whether reducing the choice options significantly influences the reported thresholds of self-motion perception of healthy subjects. Methods Thirty-three volunteers with no prior vestibular complaints were included and sequentially tested with both paradigms at a random sequence. Perceptual self-motion thresholds were measured using a hydraulic motion platform in the absence of external visual and auditory cues. The platform delivered twelve different movements: six translations and six rotations. Each subject had to report the correct type and direction of movements. Thresholds were determined by a double confirmation of the lowest threshold, in combination with a double rejection of the one-step lower stimulus. Perceptual self-motion thresholds of both paradigms were compared using the mixed model analysis. Results The twelve-option paradigm showed significantly higher reported thresholds for yaw rotations and translations left, right and down (p < 0.001), compared to the two-option paradigm. No statistical difference was found for rolls and translations up. No significant gender effect, learning effect and carry-over effect were present in any of the applied motion directions. Conclusion Reported thresholds of self-motion perception of healthy subjects are influenced by the testing paradigm. The twelve-option paradigm showed significantly higher thresholds than the two-option paradigm. Results obtained with each testing paradigm should, therefore, be compared to paradigm-specific normative data. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00415-022-11032-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Pleshkov
- Division of Balance Disorders, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ET Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Physics, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
| | - N. Rondas
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - F. Lucieer
- Division of Balance Disorders, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ET Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - L. van Stiphout
- Division of Balance Disorders, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ET Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - M. Janssen
- Division of Balance Disorders, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ET Maastricht, The Netherlands
- School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Department of Methodology and Statistics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - N. Guinand
- Service of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - A. Perez-Fornos
- Service of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - V. Demkin
- Faculty of Physics, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
| | - V. van Rompaey
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - H. Kingma
- Division of Balance Disorders, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ET Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - R. van de Berg
- Division of Balance Disorders, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ET Maastricht, The Netherlands
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14
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Effects of motion paradigm on human perception of tilt and translation. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1430. [PMID: 35082357 PMCID: PMC8792002 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05483-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The effect of varying sinusoidal linear acceleration on perception of human motion was examined using 4 motion paradigms: off-vertical axis rotation, variable radius centrifugation, linear lateral translation, and rotation about an earth-horizontal axis. The motion profiles for each paradigm included 6 frequencies (0.01–0.6 Hz) and 5 tilt amplitudes (5°–20°). Subjects verbally reported the perceived angle of their whole-body tilt and the peak-to-peak translation of their head in space and used a joystick capable of recording 2-axis motion in the sagittal and transversal planes to indicate the phase between the perceived and actual motions. The amplitudes of perceived tilt and translation were expressed in terms of gain, i.e., the ratio of perceived tilt to equivalent tilt angle, and the ratio of perceived translation to equivalent linear displacement. Tilt perception gain decreased, whereas translation perception gain increased, with increasing frequency. During off-vertical axis rotation, the phase of tilt perception and of translation perception did not vary across stimulus frequencies. These motion paradigms elicited similar responses in roll tilt and interaural perception of translation, with differences likely due to the influence of naso-occipital linear accelerations and input to the semicircular canals that varied across motion paradigms.
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15
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Older adults with age-related hearing loss (ARHL) are at greater risk of falling and have greater mobility problems than older adults with normal hearing (NH). The underlying cause of these associations remains unclear. One possible reason is that age-related declines in the vestibular system could parallel those observed in the auditory system within the same individuals. Here, we compare the sensitivity of vestibular perceptual abilities (psychophysics), vestibular end-organ functioning (vestibular evoked myogenic potentials and video head impulse tests), and standing balance (posturography) in healthy older adults with and without ARHL. DESIGN A total of 46 community-dwelling older adults, 23 with ARHL and 23 with NH, were passively translated in heave (up and down) and rotated in pitch (tilted forward and backward) in the dark using a motion platform. Using an adaptive staircase psychophysical procedure, participants' heave and pitch detection and discrimination thresholds were determined. In a posturography task, participants' center of pressure (COP) path length was measured as they stood on a forceplate with eyes open and closed, on firm and compliant surfaces, with and without sound suppression. Baseline motor, cognitive, and sensory functioning, including vestibular end-organ function, were measured. RESULTS Individuals with ARHL were less sensitive at discriminating pitch movements compared to older adults with NH. Poorer self-reported hearing abilities were also associated with poorer pitch discrimination. In addition to pitch discrimination thresholds, lower pitch detection thresholds were significantly associated with hearing loss in the low-frequency range. Less stable standing balance was significantly associated with poorer vestibular perceptual sensitivity. DISCUSSION These findings provide evidence for an association between ARHL and reduced vestibular perceptual sensitivity.
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16
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Kobel MJ, Wagner AR, Merfeld DM. Impact of gravity on the perception of linear motion. J Neurophysiol 2021; 126:875-887. [PMID: 34320866 PMCID: PMC8461827 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00274.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate perception of gravity and translation is fundamental for balance, navigation, and motor control. Previous studies have reported that perceptual thresholds for earth-vertical (i.e., parallel to gravity) and earth-horizontal (i.e., perpendicular to gravity) translations are equivalent in healthy adults, suggesting that the nervous system compensates for the presence of gravity. However, past study designs were not able to fully separate the effect of gravity from the potential effects of motion direction and body orientation. To quantify the effect of gravity on translation perception relative to these alternative factors, we measured vestibular perceptual thresholds for three motion directions (inter-aural, naso-occipital, and superior-inferior) and three body orientations (upright, supine, and ear-down). In contrast to prior reports, our data suggest that the nervous system does not universally compensate for the effects of gravity during translation, instead, we show that the colinear effect of gravity significantly decreases the sensitivity to stimuli for motions sensed by the utricles (inter-aural and naso-occipital translation), but this effect was not significant for motions sensed by the saccules (superior-inferior translations). We also identified increased thresholds for superior-inferior translation, suggesting decreased sensitivity of motions sensed predominantly by the saccule. An overall effect of body orientation on perception was seen; however, post hoc analyses suggest that this orientation effect may reflect the impact of gravity on self-motion perception. Overall, our data provide fundamental insights into the manner by which the nervous system processes vestibular self-motion cues, showing that the effect of gravity on translation perception is impacted by the direction of motion.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Perception of gravity and translation are fundamental for self-motion perception, balance, and motor control. The central nervous system must accurately disambiguate peripheral otolith signals encoding both linear acceleration and gravity. In contrast to past reports, we show that perception of translation depends on both motion relative to gravity and motion relative to the head. These results provide fundamental insights into otolith-mediated perception and suggest that the nervous system must compensate for the presence of gravity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan J Kobel
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Andrew R Wagner
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
- Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Daniel M Merfeld
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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17
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Irmak T, de Winkel KN, Pool DM, Bülthoff HH, Happee R. Individual motion perception parameters and motion sickness frequency sensitivity in fore-aft motion. Exp Brain Res 2021; 239:1727-1745. [PMID: 33779793 PMCID: PMC8006642 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-021-06093-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Previous literature suggests a relationship between individual characteristics of motion perception and the peak frequency of motion sickness sensitivity. Here, we used well-established paradigms to relate motion perception and motion sickness on an individual level. We recruited 23 participants to complete a two-part experiment. In the first part, we determined individual velocity storage time constants from perceived rotation in response to Earth Vertical Axis Rotation (EVAR) and subjective vertical time constants from perceived tilt in response to centrifugation. The cross-over frequency for resolution of the gravito-inertial ambiguity was derived from our data using the Multi Sensory Observer Model (MSOM). In the second part of the experiment, we determined individual motion sickness frequency responses. Participants were exposed to 30-minute sinusoidal fore-aft motions at frequencies of 0.15, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 Hz, with a peak amplitude of 2 m/s2 in five separate sessions, approximately 1 week apart. Sickness responses were recorded using both the MIsery SCale (MISC) with 30 s intervals, and the Motion Sickness Assessment Questionnaire (MSAQ) at the end of the motion exposure. The average velocity storage and subjective vertical time constants were 17.2 s (STD = 6.8 s) and 9.2 s (STD = 7.17 s). The average cross-over frequency was 0.21 Hz (STD = 0.10 Hz). At the group level, there was no significant effect of frequency on motion sickness. However, considerable individual variability was observed in frequency sensitivities, with some participants being particularly sensitive to the lowest frequencies, whereas others were most sensitive to intermediate or higher frequencies. The frequency of peak sensitivity did not correlate with the velocity storage time constant (r = 0.32, p = 0.26) or the subjective vertical time constant (r = − 0.37, p = 0.29). Our prediction of a significant correlation between cross-over frequency and frequency sensitivity was not confirmed (r = 0.26, p = 0.44). However, we did observe a strong positive correlation between the subjective vertical time constant and general motion sickness sensitivity (r = 0.74, p = 0.0006). We conclude that frequency sensitivity is best considered a property unique to the individual. This has important consequences for existing models of motion sickness, which were fitted to group averaged sensitivities. The correlation between the subjective vertical time constant and motion sickness sensitivity supports the importance of verticality perception during exposure to translational sickness stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tugrul Irmak
- Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628, CD, Delft South Holland, Netherlands.
| | - Ksander N de Winkel
- Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628, CD, Delft South Holland, Netherlands
| | - Daan M Pool
- Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 1, 2629, HS, Delft South Holland, Netherlands
| | - Heinrich H Bülthoff
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Max-Planck-Ring 14, 72076, Tübingen Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Riender Happee
- Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628, CD, Delft South Holland, Netherlands
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Kobel MJ, Wagner AR, Merfeld DM, Mattingly JK. Vestibular Thresholds: A Review of Advances and Challenges in Clinical Applications. Front Neurol 2021; 12:643634. [PMID: 33679594 PMCID: PMC7933227 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.643634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Vestibular disorders pose a substantial burden on the healthcare system due to a high prevalence and the severity of symptoms. Currently, a large portion of patients experiencing vestibular symptoms receive an ambiguous diagnosis or one that is based solely on history, unconfirmed by any objective measures. As patients primarily experience perceptual symptoms (e.g., dizziness), recent studies have investigated the use of vestibular perceptual thresholds, a quantitative measure of vestibular perception, in clinical populations. This review provides an overview of vestibular perceptual thresholds and the current literature assessing use in clinical populations as a potential diagnostic tool. Patients with peripheral and central vestibular pathologies, including bilateral vestibulopathy and vestibular migraine, show characteristic changes in vestibular thresholds. Vestibular perceptual thresholds have also been found to detect subtle, sub-clinical declines in vestibular function in asymptomatic older adults, suggesting a potential use of vestibular thresholds to augment or complement existing diagnostic methods in multiple populations. Vestibular thresholds are a reliable, sensitive, and specific assay of vestibular precision, however, continued research is needed to better understand the possible applications and limitations, especially with regard to the diagnosis of vestibular disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan J Kobel
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States.,Department of Speech and Hearing Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Andrew R Wagner
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States.,Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Daniel M Merfeld
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jameson K Mattingly
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
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19
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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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20
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Karmali F, Goodworth AD, Valko Y, Leeder T, Peterka RJ, Merfeld DM. The role of vestibular cues in postural sway. J Neurophysiol 2021; 125:672-686. [PMID: 33502934 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00168.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Controlling posture requires continuous sensory feedback about body motion and orientation, including from the vestibular organs. Little is known about the role of tilt vs. translation vs. rotation vestibular cues. We examined whether intersubject differences in vestibular function were correlated with intersubject differences in postural control. Vestibular function was assayed using vestibular direction-recognition perceptual thresholds, which determine the smallest motion that can be reliably perceived by a subject seated on a motorized platform in the dark. In study A, we measured thresholds for lateral translation, vertical translation, yaw rotation, and head-centered roll tilts. In study B, we measured thresholds for roll, pitch, and left anterior-right posterior and right anterior-left posterior tilts. Center-of-pressure (CoP) sway was measured in sensory organization tests (study A) and Romberg tests (study B). We found a strong positive relationship between CoP sway and lateral translation thresholds but not CoP sway and other thresholds. This finding suggests that the vestibular encoding of lateral translation may contribute substantially to balance control. Since thresholds assay sensory noise, our results support the hypothesis that vestibular noise contributes to spontaneous postural sway. Specifically, we found that lateral translation thresholds explained more of the variation in postural sway in postural test conditions with altered proprioceptive cues (vs. a solid surface), consistent with postural sway being more dependent on vestibular noise when the vestibular contribution to balance is higher. These results have potential implications for vestibular implants, balance prostheses, and physical therapy exercises.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Vestibular feedback is important for postural control, but little is known about the role of tilt cues vs. translation cues vs. rotation cues. We studied healthy human subjects with no known vestibular pathology or symptoms. Our findings showed that vestibular encoding of lateral translation correlated with medial-lateral postural sway, consistent with lateral translation cues contributing to balance control. This adds support to the hypothesis that vestibular noise contributes to spontaneous postural sway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faisal Karmali
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Jenks Vestibular Physiology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Adam D Goodworth
- Kinesiology Department, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Yulia Valko
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tania Leeder
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Robert J Peterka
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.,National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon
| | - Daniel M Merfeld
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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21
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Lajoie K, Marigold DS, Valdés BA, Menon C. The potential of noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation for optimizing and assisting human performance. Neuropsychologia 2021; 152:107751. [PMID: 33434573 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) is an emerging non-invasive brain stimulation technique. It involves applying alternating currents of different frequencies and amplitudes presented in a random, or noisy, manner through electrodes on the mastoid bones behind the ears. Because it directly activates vestibular hair cells and afferents and has an indirect effect on a variety of brain regions, it has the potential to impact many different functions. The objective of this review is twofold: (1) to review how nGVS affects motor, sensory, and cognitive performance in healthy adults; and (2) to discuss potential clinical applications of nGVS. First, we introduce the technique. We then describe the regions receiving and processing vestibular information. Next, we discuss the effects of nGVS on motor, sensory, and cognitive function in healthy adults. Subsequently, we outline its potential clinical applications. Finally, we highlight other electrical stimulation technologies and discuss why nGVS offers an alternative or complementary approach. Overall, nGVS appears promising for optimizing human performance and as an assistive technology, though further research is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Lajoie
- Menrva Research Group, Schools of Mechatronic Systems Engineering and Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Metro Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Daniel S Marigold
- Sensorimotor Neuroscience Lab, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
| | - Bulmaro A Valdés
- Menrva Research Group, Schools of Mechatronic Systems Engineering and Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Metro Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Carlo Menon
- Menrva Research Group, Schools of Mechatronic Systems Engineering and Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Metro Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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22
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McManus M, Harris LR. When gravity is not where it should be: How perceived orientation affects visual self-motion processing. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0243381. [PMID: 33406125 PMCID: PMC7787374 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human perception is based on expectations. We expect visual upright and gravity upright, sensed through vision, vestibular and other sensory systems, to agree. Equally, we expect that visual and vestibular information about self-motion will correspond. What happens when these assumptions are violated? Tilting a person from upright so that gravity is not where it should be impacts both visually induced self-motion (vection) and the perception of upright. How might the two be connected? Using virtual reality, we varied the strength of visual orientation cues, and hence the probability of participants experiencing a visual reorientation illusion (VRI) in which visual cues to orientation dominate gravity, using an oriented corridor and a starfield while also varying head-on-trunk orientation and body posture. The effectiveness of the optic flow in simulating self-motion was assessed by how much visual motion was required to evoke the perception that the participant had reached the position of a previously presented target. VRI was assessed by questionnaire When participants reported higher levels of VRI they also required less visual motion to evoke the sense of traveling through a given distance, regardless of head or body posture, or the type of visual environment. We conclude that experiencing a VRI, in which visual-vestibular conflict is resolved and the direction of upright is reinterpreted, affects the effectiveness of optic flow at simulating motion through the environment. Therefore, any apparent effect of head or body posture or type of environment are largely indirect effects related instead, to the level of VRI experienced by the observer. We discuss potential mechanisms for this such as reinterpreting gravity information or altering the weighting of orientation cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan McManus
- Centre for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- * E-mail:
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23
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Ooka T, Bay J, Takeda T, Honda K, Ikeda T, Tsutsumi T. Clinical application of 3D-VOG analysis for quantitative evaluation of Otolith-Ocular reflex in the roll and pitch planes. Acta Otolaryngol 2020; 140:925-929. [PMID: 33026898 DOI: 10.1080/00016489.2020.1816657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Management of vestibular falls requires precise evaluation of otolithic function and gravity recognition. Tilt of the head in the roll plane causes ocular counter rolling (OCR) with a gain of 5-10%, which can be a quantitative parameter related to the otolith-ocular reflex (OOR) in that plane. However, the OOR in the pitch plane is indiscernible because of our ability to voluntarily gaze and pursue. 3 D eye movements and its Listing's plane description can provide novel parameters with which to evaluate OOR, even in the pitch plane. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the utility of 3 D eye movement analysis in video oculography (VOG) as a quantitative parameter reflecting otolithic function during head movements associated with daily life. MATERIALS AND METHODS In healthy subjects, we analyzed the changes in 3 D eye movements and the Listing's plane that occur with static gravitational modification. RESULTS OOR during head tilt in the roll plane revealed that OCR amplitude had a saturating/peaked conformation and was not fitted by a sine curve. OOR in the pitch plane revealed anteroposterior leaning of the Listing's plane. CONCLUSIONS These novel tools for minimally invasive evaluation of OOR in a clinical setting could potentially enable us to quantitatively evaluate peripheral static disequilibrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoki Ooka
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jing Bay
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takamori Takeda
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiji Honda
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuo Ikeda
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tsudumigaura Medical Center for Children with Disabilities, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Takeshi Tsutsumi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
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24
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Human vestibular perceptual thresholds for pitch tilt are slightly worse than for roll tilt across a range of frequencies. Exp Brain Res 2020; 238:1499-1509. [DOI: 10.1007/s00221-020-05830-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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25
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Wagner AR, Schubert MC. Evidence a shared mechanism mediates ipsi- and contralesional compensatory saccades and gait after unilateral vestibular deafferentation. J Neurophysiol 2020; 123:1486-1495. [DOI: 10.1152/jn.00585.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The study objective was to understand how the contralesional labyrinth contributes to gaze and gait stability after unilateral vestibular deafferentation (UVD). Head impulse testing (vHIT) was completed in 37 individuals [22 women (59%); age 52.13 ± 11.59 yr, mean ± SD] with UVD from vestibular schwannoma resection. Compensatory saccades (CS) and vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain were analyzed for both ipsilesional and contralesional impulses. Gait speed (10-m walk test) and endurance (2-min walk test) were collected for 35 individuals. CS were recruited during contralesional head rotation regardless of VOR gain on either the ipsilesional [ρ = 0.21 (−0.14, 0.57); Spearman rank (95% confidence interval)] or contralesional side [ρ = −0.04 (−0.42, 0.35)]. Additionally, the latency of these CS (151.19 ± 52.41 ms) was similar to that of CS generated during ipsilesional rotation (165.65 ± 21.62 ms; P = 0.159). CS recruited during ipsilesional vHIT were of a higher velocity ( P < 0.001) and greater frequency ( P < 0.001) compared with contralesional CS. VOR gain asymmetry was significantly correlated with gait speed [ρ = −0.37 (−0.73, −0.01)], yet individual VOR gain was not correlated [ipsilesional: ρ = 0.17 (−0.20, 0.55); contralesional: ρ = −0.18 (−0.52, 0.15)]. Our data reveal CS are recruited at similar latencies without correlation to VOR gain or direction of head rotation, and that the central integration of ipsilesional and contralesional vestibular afference correlates with gait. Together, our data suggest the brain considers vestibular afference from both sides when generating related behavioral output after UVD. NEW & NOTEWORTHY After unilateral vestibular deafferentation, compensatory saccades (CS) have similar latencies regardless of the direction of head rotation, and those CS generated during contralesional head rotation are unrelated to extent of vestibular loss. Additionally, the extent of asymmetry in residual vestibular function, not the extent of vestibular loss, correlates with gait speed. Our data suggest a common mechanism is responsible for the generation of CS and restoration of gait speed in vestibular compensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R. Wagner
- College of Medicine, School of Health and Rehabilitation Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Michael C. Schubert
- Laboratory of Vestibular NeuroAdaptation, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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26
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Sugawara T, Sakai H, Hirata Y. Vestibulo-ocular reflex characteristics during unidirectional translational whole-body vibration without head restriction. ERGONOMICS 2020; 63:91-100. [PMID: 31707951 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2019.1683616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) plays a crucial role in ocular stability. However, VOR characteristics under realistic whole-body vibration conditions, particularly without head restriction, remain unclear. The aim of this study was to characterise the VOR over a wide range of whole-body vibration frequencies (0.7-10 Hz), such as occur when driving a car. Eye and head movements were measured in response to unidirectional translational whole-body vibration that resembled actual vehicle vibrations. The VOR was then modelled by regressing eye velocity data on multiple head movement components. Results showed that the VOR was explained by angular velocity, linear acceleration, and linear jerk components of the head movements. Because the VOR in response to head linear-jerk components disrupted ocular stability in the current experimental setup, our results suggest that degraded vision in whole-body vibratory environments might be partially attributable to jerky head movements. Practitioner summary: The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) during unidirectional translational whole-body vibration without head restriction was modelled using multiple head movement components, with the aim of characterising the VOR. Results showed that the VOR was explained by angular velocity, linear acceleration, and linear jerk components of head movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Sugawara
- Strategic Research Division, Toyota Central R&D Labs., Inc, Nagakute, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Sakai
- Strategic Research Division, Toyota Central R&D Labs., Inc, Nagakute, Japan
| | - Yutaka Hirata
- Department of Robotic Science and Technology, Chubu University College of Engineering, Kasugai, Japan
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27
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Choi JY, Glasauer S, Kim JH, Zee DS, Kim JS. Characteristics and mechanism of apogeotropic central positional nystagmus. Brain 2019; 141:762-775. [PMID: 29373699 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awx381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we characterize persistent apogeotropic type of central positional nystagmus, and compare it with the apogeotropic nystagmus of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo involving the lateral canal. Nystagmus was recorded in 27 patients with apogeotropic type of central positional nystagmus (22 with unilateral and five with diffuse cerebellar lesions) and 20 patients with apogeotropic nystagmus of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. They were tested while sitting, while supine with the head straight back, and in the right and left ear-down positions. The intensity of spontaneous nystagmus was similar while sitting and supine in apogeotropic type of central positional nystagmus, but greater when supine in apogeotropic nystagmus of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. In central positional nystagmus, when due to a focal pathology, the lesions mostly overlapped in the vestibulocerebellum (nodulus, uvula, and tonsil). We suggest a mechanism for apogeotropic type of central positional nystagmus based on the location of lesions and a model that uses the velocity-storage mechanism. During both tilt and translation, the otolith organs can relay the same gravito-inertial acceleration signal. This inherent ambiguity can be resolved by a 'tilt-estimator circuit' in which information from the semicircular canals about head rotation is combined with otolith information about linear acceleration through the velocity-storage mechanism. An example of how this mechanism works in normal subjects is the sustained horizontal nystagmus that is produced when a normal subject is rotated at a constant speed around an axis that is tilted away from the true vertical (off-vertical axis rotation). We propose that when the tilt-estimator circuit malfunctions, for example, with lesions in the vestibulocerebellum, the estimate of the direction of gravity is erroneously biased away from true vertical. If the bias is toward the nose, when the head is turned to the side while supine, there will be sustained, unwanted, horizontal positional nystagmus (apogeotropic type of central positional nystagmus) because of an inappropriate feedback signal indicating that the head is rotating when it is not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong-Yoon Choi
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Stefan Glasauer
- Center for Sensorimotor Research, Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany.,German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ji Hyun Kim
- Department of Neurology, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - David S Zee
- Departments of Neurology, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ji-Soo Kim
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
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28
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Jamali M, Carriot J, Chacron MJ, Cullen KE. Coding strategies in the otolith system differ for translational head motion vs. static orientation relative to gravity. eLife 2019; 8:45573. [PMID: 31199243 PMCID: PMC6590985 DOI: 10.7554/elife.45573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The detection of gravito-inertial forces by the otolith system is essential for our sense of balance and accurate perception. To date, however, how this system encodes the self-motion stimuli that are experienced during everyday activities remains unknown. Here, we addressed this fundamental question directly by recording from single otolith afferents in monkeys during naturalistic translational self-motion and changes in static head orientation. Otolith afferents with higher intrinsic variability transmitted more information overall about translational self-motion than their regular counterparts, owing to stronger nonlinearities that enabled precise spike timing including phase locking. By contrast, more regular afferents better discriminated between different static head orientations relative to gravity. Using computational methods, we further demonstrated that coupled increases in intrinsic variability and sensitivity accounted for the observed functional differences between afferent classes. Together, our results indicate that irregular and regular otolith afferents use different strategies to encode naturalistic self-motion and static head orientation relative to gravity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Jamali
- Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States
| | - Jerome Carriot
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | | | - Kathleen E Cullen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
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29
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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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30
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Balaban CD, Black RD, Silberstein SD. Vestibular Neuroscience for the Headache Specialist. Headache 2019; 59:1109-1127. [DOI: 10.1111/head.13550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carey D. Balaban
- Department of Otolaryngology University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA USA
- Department of Neurobiology University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA USA
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA USA
- Department of Bioengineering University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA USA
| | | | - Stephen D. Silberstein
- Jefferson Headache Center, Department of Neurology Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia PA USA
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31
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Abstract
Although motion of the head and body has been suspected or known as the provocative cause for the production of motion sickness for centuries, it is only within the last 20 yr that the source of the signal generating motion sickness and its neural basis has been firmly established. Here, we briefly review the source of the conflicts that cause the body to generate the autonomic signs and symptoms that constitute motion sickness and provide a summary of the experimental data that have led to an understanding of how motion sickness is generated and can be controlled. Activity and structures that produce motion sickness include vestibular input through the semicircular canals, the otolith organs, and the velocity storage integrator in the vestibular nuclei. Velocity storage is produced through activity of vestibular-only (VO) neurons under control of neural structures in the nodulus of the vestibulo-cerebellum. Separate groups of nodular neurons sense orientation to gravity, roll/tilt, and translation, which provide strong inhibitory control of the VO neurons. Additionally, there are acetylcholinergic projections from the nodulus to the stomach, which along with other serotonergic inputs from the vestibular nuclei, could induce nausea and vomiting. Major inhibition is produced by the GABAB receptors, which modulate and suppress activity in the velocity storage integrator. Ingestion of the GABAB agonist baclofen causes suppression of motion sickness. Hopefully, a better understanding of the source of sensory conflict will lead to better ways to avoid and treat the autonomic signs and symptoms that constitute the syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Cohen
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , New York, New York.,Department of Neurology, New York University, New York
| | - Mingjia Dai
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , New York, New York.,Department of Neurology, New York University, New York
| | - Sergei B Yakushin
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , New York, New York.,Department of Neurology, New York University, New York
| | - Catherine Cho
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , New York, New York.,Department of Neurology, New York University, New York
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32
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The influence of target distance on perceptual self-motion thresholds and the vestibulo-ocular reflex during interaural translation. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2019; 248:197-208. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2019.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
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33
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Holly JE, Cohen HS, Masood MA. Assessing misperception of rotation in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo with static and dynamic visual images. J Vestib Res 2019; 29:271-279. [PMID: 31450525 PMCID: PMC9973413 DOI: 10.3233/ves-190676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perception of self-motion is difficult for patients to describe. In addition, the relationship between perceived rotation and eye movements is poorly understood, because most studies of patients have investigated only static orientation. OBJECTIVE First, to determine whether patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) can use visual images to report perceived rotation elicited by the Dix-Hallpike maneuver. Second, to determine if the direction of patients' perceptions align with data on classical nystagmus direction. METHODS After the Dix-Hallpike maneuver, BPPV patients viewed images - sketches or video animations - representing possible perceived motions. They selected one or more images representing perception. RESULTS All subjects could select images. The directions of the videos were most often backward pitch and/ or ipsilateral roll and yaw relative to body orientation in the supine Dix-Hallpike position, generally consistent with the canal stimulus. Perceived direction of rotation was statistically significantly different from the direction of eye movements as published previously, suggesting a difference in mechanisms for perception and eye movements. CONCLUSION Patients can easily learn to use a video language to describe their experiences. Perception is generally aligned with canal stimulus and nystagmus, but not exactly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan E. Holly
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Colby College, Waterville, ME
| | - Helen S. Cohen
- Bobby R Alford Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030
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34
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Galvan-Garza R, Clark T, Mulavara A, Oman C. Exhibition of stochastic resonance in vestibular tilt motion perception. Brain Stimul 2018; 11:716-722. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2018.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 03/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/30/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
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35
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Goyens J, Aerts P. Head stabilisation in fast running lizards. ZOOLOGY 2018; 127:114-120. [DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2017.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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36
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Serrador JM, Deegan BM, Geraghty MC, Wood SJ. Enhancing vestibular function in the elderly with imperceptible electrical stimulation. Sci Rep 2018; 8:336. [PMID: 29321511 PMCID: PMC5762876 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18653-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related loss of vestibular function can result in decrements in gaze stabilization and increased fall risk in the elderly. This study was designed to see if low levels of electrical stochastic noise applied transcutaneously to the vestibular system can improve a gaze stabilization reflex in young and elderly subject groups. Ocular counter-rolling (OCR) using a video-based technique was obtained in 16 subjects during low frequency passive roll tilts. Consistent with previous studies, there was a significant reduction in OCR gains in the elderly compared to the young group. Imperceptible stochastic noise significantly increased OCR in the elderly (Mean 23%, CI: 17–35%). Increases in OCR gain were greatest for those with lowest baseline gain and were negligible in those with normal gain. Since stimulation was effective at low levels undetectable to subjects, stochastic noise may provide a new treatment alternative to enhance vestibular function, specifically otolith-ocular reflexes, in the elderly or patient populations with reduced otolith-ocular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge M Serrador
- Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Depart. of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Newark, NJ, USA. .,National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland. .,War Related Illness & Injury Study Center, NJ Health Care System, Dept of Veteran Affairs, East Orange, NJ, USA.
| | | | | | - Scott J Wood
- Azusa Pacific University, Dept. of Psychology, Azusa, CA, USA.,NASA Johnson Space Center, Space Medicine Operations, Houston, TX, USA
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37
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Nguyen TAK, Cavuscens S, Ranieri M, Schwarz K, Guinand N, van de Berg R, van den Boogert T, Lucieer F, van Hoof M, Guyot JP, Kingma H, Micera S, Perez Fornos A. Characterization of Cochlear, Vestibular and Cochlear-Vestibular Electrically Evoked Compound Action Potentials in Patients with a Vestibulo-Cochlear Implant. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:645. [PMID: 29209162 PMCID: PMC5702472 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The peripheral vestibular system is critical for the execution of activities of daily life as it provides movement and orientation information to motor and sensory systems. Patients with bilateral vestibular hypofunction experience a significant decrease in quality of life and have currently no viable treatment option. Vestibular implants could eventually restore vestibular function. Most vestibular implant prototypes to date are modified cochlear implants to fast-track development. These use various objective measurements, such as the electrically evoked compound action potential (eCAP), to supplement behavioral information. We investigated whether eCAPs could be recorded in patients with a vestibulo-cochlear implant. Specifically, eCAPs were successfully recorded for cochlear and vestibular setups, as well as for mixed cochlear-vestibular setups. Similarities and slight differences were found for the recordings of the three setups. These findings demonstrated the feasibility of eCAP recording with a vestibulo-cochlear implant. They could be used in the short term to reduce current spread and avoid activation of non-targeted neurons. More research is warranted to better understand the neural origin of vestibular eCAPs and to utilize them for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- T A K Nguyen
- Division of Functional Neurosurgery, Department of Neurology, Inselspital Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Translational Neuroengineering, ÉcolePolytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Samuel Cavuscens
- Service of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maurizio Ranieri
- Service of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Nils Guinand
- Service of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Raymond van de Berg
- Division of Balance Disorders, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands.,International Research Laboratory for Modelling of Physical Processes in Biology and Medicine, Faculty of Physics, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Thomas van den Boogert
- Department of Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Floor Lucieer
- Division of Balance Disorders, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Marc van Hoof
- Division of Balance Disorders, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Jean-Philippe Guyot
- Service of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Herman Kingma
- Division of Balance Disorders, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands.,International Research Laboratory for Modelling of Physical Processes in Biology and Medicine, Faculty of Physics, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Silvestro Micera
- Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Translational Neuroengineering, ÉcolePolytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Translational Neural Engineering Laboratory, BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Angelica Perez Fornos
- Service of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
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38
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Pomante A, Selen LPJ, Medendorp WP. Perception of the dynamic visual vertical during sinusoidal linear motion. J Neurophysiol 2017; 118:2499-2506. [PMID: 28814635 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00439.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Revised: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 08/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The vestibular system provides information for spatial orientation. However, this information is ambiguous: because the otoliths sense the gravitoinertial force, they cannot distinguish gravitational and inertial components. As a consequence, prolonged linear acceleration of the head can be interpreted as tilt, referred to as the somatogravic effect. Previous modeling work suggests that the brain disambiguates the otolith signal according to the rules of Bayesian inference, combining noisy canal cues with the a priori assumption that prolonged linear accelerations are unlikely. Within this modeling framework the noise of the vestibular signals affects the dynamic characteristics of the tilt percept during linear whole-body motion. To test this prediction, we devised a novel paradigm to psychometrically characterize the dynamic visual vertical-as a proxy for the tilt percept-during passive sinusoidal linear motion along the interaural axis (0.33 Hz motion frequency, 1.75 m/s2 peak acceleration, 80 cm displacement). While subjects (n=10) kept fixation on a central body-fixed light, a line was briefly flashed (5 ms) at different phases of the motion, the orientation of which had to be judged relative to gravity. Consistent with the model's prediction, subjects showed a phase-dependent modulation of the dynamic visual vertical, with a subject-specific phase shift with respect to the imposed acceleration signal. The magnitude of this modulation was smaller than predicted, suggesting a contribution of nonvestibular signals to the dynamic visual vertical. Despite their dampening effect, our findings may point to a link between the noise components in the vestibular system and the characteristics of dynamic visual vertical.NEW & NOTEWORTHY A fundamental question in neuroscience is how the brain processes vestibular signals to infer the orientation of the body and objects in space. We show that, under sinusoidal linear motion, systematic error patterns appear in the disambiguation of linear acceleration and spatial orientation. We discuss the dynamics of these illusory percepts in terms of a dynamic Bayesian model that combines uncertainty in the vestibular signals with priors based on the natural statistics of head motion.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Pomante
- Radboud University, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - L P J Selen
- Radboud University, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - W P Medendorp
- Radboud University, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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39
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Imai T, Takimoto Y, Takeda N, Okumura T, Inohara H. Three-dimensional analysis of linear vestibulo-ocular reflex in humans during eccentric rotation while facing downwards. Exp Brain Res 2017; 235:2575-2590. [DOI: 10.1007/s00221-017-4990-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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40
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Diaz-Artiles A, Priesol AJ, Clark TK, Sherwood DP, Oman CM, Young LR, Karmali F. The Impact of Oral Promethazine on Human Whole-Body Motion Perceptual Thresholds. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2017; 18:581-590. [PMID: 28439720 DOI: 10.1007/s10162-017-0622-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the widespread treatment of motion sickness symptoms using drugs and the involvement of the vestibular system in motion sickness, little is known about the effects of anti-motion sickness drugs on vestibular perception. In particular, the impact of oral promethazine, widely used for treating motion sickness, on vestibular perceptual thresholds has not previously been quantified. We examined whether promethazine (25 mg) alters vestibular perceptual thresholds in a counterbalanced, double-blind, within-subject study. Thresholds were determined using a direction recognition task (left vs. right) for whole-body yaw rotation, y-translation (interaural), and roll tilt passive, self-motions. Roll tilt thresholds were 31 % higher after ingestion of promethazine (P = 0.005). There were no statistically significant changes in yaw rotation and y-translation thresholds. This worsening of precision could have functional implications, e.g., during driving, bicycling, and piloting tasks. Differing results from some past studies of promethazine on the vestibulo-ocular reflex emphasize the need to study motion perception in addition to motor responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Diaz-Artiles
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
- Aeronautics & Astronautics Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Adrian J Priesol
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Torin K Clark
- Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - David P Sherwood
- Aeronautics & Astronautics Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Charles M Oman
- Aeronautics & Astronautics Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Laurence R Young
- Aeronautics & Astronautics Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Faisal Karmali
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Lab, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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41
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Dalton BH, Rasman BG, Inglis JT, Blouin J. The internal representation of head orientation differs for conscious perception and balance control. J Physiol 2017; 595:2731-2749. [PMID: 28035656 PMCID: PMC5390877 DOI: 10.1113/jp272998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 11/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS We tested perceived head-on-feet orientation and the direction of vestibular-evoked balance responses in passively and actively held head-turned postures. The direction of vestibular-evoked balance responses was not aligned with perceived head-on-feet orientation while maintaining prolonged passively held head-turned postures. Furthermore, static visual cues of head-on-feet orientation did not update the estimate of head posture for the balance controller. A prolonged actively held head-turned posture did not elicit a rotation in the direction of the vestibular-evoked balance response despite a significant rotation in perceived angular head posture. It is proposed that conscious perception of head posture and the transformation of vestibular signals for standing balance relying on this head posture are not dependent on the same internal representation. Rather, the balance system may operate under its own sensorimotor principles, which are partly independent from perception. ABSTRACT Vestibular signals used for balance control must be integrated with other sensorimotor cues to allow transformation of descending signals according to an internal representation of body configuration. We explored two alternative models of sensorimotor integration that propose (1) a single internal representation of head-on-feet orientation is responsible for perceived postural orientation and standing balance or (2) conscious perception and balance control are driven by separate internal representations. During three experiments, participants stood quietly while passively or actively maintaining a prolonged head-turned posture (>10 min). Throughout the trials, participants intermittently reported their perceived head angular position, and subsequently electrical vestibular stimuli were delivered to elicit whole-body balance responses. Visual recalibration of head-on-feet posture was used to determine whether static visual cues are used to update the internal representation of body configuration for perceived orientation and standing balance. All three experiments involved situations in which the vestibular-evoked balance response was not orthogonal to perceived head-on-feet orientation, regardless of the visual information provided. For prolonged head-turned postures, balance responses consistent with actual head-on-feet posture occurred only during the active condition. Our results indicate that conscious perception of head-on-feet posture and vestibular control of balance do not rely on the same internal representation, but instead treat sensorimotor cues in parallel and may arrive at different conclusions regarding head-on-feet posture. The balance system appears to bypass static visual cues of postural orientation and mainly use other sensorimotor signals of head-on-feet position to transform vestibular signals of head motion, a mechanism appropriate for most daily activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian H. Dalton
- School of KinesiologyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
- School of Health and Exercise SciencesUniversity of British Columbia OkanaganKelownaBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Brandon G. Rasman
- School of KinesiologyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - J. Timothy Inglis
- School of KinesiologyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain HealthUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
- International Collaboration on Repair DiscoveriesUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Jean‐Sébastien Blouin
- School of KinesiologyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain HealthUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
- Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive SystemsUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
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42
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Douglas SB, Clément G, Denise P, Wood SJ. Ocular Reflex Phase during Off-Vertical Axis Rotation in Humans is Modified by Head-Turn-On-Trunk Position. Sci Rep 2017; 7:42071. [PMID: 28176802 PMCID: PMC5296736 DOI: 10.1038/srep42071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Constant velocity Off-Vertical Axis Rotation (OVAR) imposes a continuously varying orientation of the head and body relative to gravity, which generates a modulation of horizontal (conjugate and vergence), vertical, and torsional eye movements. We introduced the head-turn-on-trunk paradigm during OVAR to examine the extent to whether the modulation of these ocular reflexes is mediated by graviceptors in the head, i.e., otoliths, versus other body graviceptors. Ten human subjects were rotated in darkness about their longitudinal axis 20° off-vertical at a constant velocity of 45 and 180°/s, corresponding to 0.125 and 0.5 Hz. Binocular responses were obtained with the head and trunk aligned, and then with the head turned relative to the trunk 40° to the right or left of center. The modulation of vertical and torsional eye position was greater at 0.125 Hz while the modulation of horizontal and vergence slow phase velocity was greater at 0.5 Hz. The amplitude modulation was not significantly altered by head-on-trunk position, but the phases shifted towards alignment with the head. These results are consistent with the modulation of ocular reflexes during OVAR being primarily mediated by the otoliths in response to the sinusoidally varying linear acceleration along the interaural and naso-occipital head axis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gilles Clément
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, CNRS UMR5292 - INSERM U1028 - University of Lyon, Impact Team, Bron, France
| | - Pierre Denise
- University of Caen Normandy, INSERM COMETE, Caen, France
| | - Scott J Wood
- Department of Psychology, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa CA, USA
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43
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Lim K, Karmali F, Nicoucar K, Merfeld DM. Perceptual precision of passive body tilt is consistent with statistically optimal cue integration. J Neurophysiol 2017; 117:2037-2052. [PMID: 28179477 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00073.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Revised: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
When making perceptual decisions, humans have been shown to optimally integrate independent noisy multisensory information, matching maximum-likelihood (ML) limits. Such ML estimators provide a theoretic limit to perceptual precision (i.e., minimal thresholds). However, how the brain combines two interacting (i.e., not independent) sensory cues remains an open question. To study the precision achieved when combining interacting sensory signals, we measured perceptual roll tilt and roll rotation thresholds between 0 and 5 Hz in six normal human subjects. Primary results show that roll tilt thresholds between 0.2 and 0.5 Hz were significantly lower than predicted by a ML estimator that includes only vestibular contributions that do not interact. In this paper, we show how other cues (e.g., somatosensation) and an internal representation of sensory and body dynamics might independently contribute to the observed performance enhancement. In short, a Kalman filter was combined with an ML estimator to match human performance, whereas the potential contribution of nonvestibular cues was assessed using published bilateral loss patient data. Our results show that a Kalman filter model including previously proven canal-otolith interactions alone (without nonvestibular cues) can explain the observed performance enhancements as can a model that includes nonvestibular contributions.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We found that human whole body self-motion direction-recognition thresholds measured during dynamic roll tilts were significantly lower than those predicted by a conventional maximum-likelihood weighting of the roll angular velocity and quasistatic roll tilt cues. Here, we show that two models can each match this "apparent" better-than-optimal performance: 1) inclusion of a somatosensory contribution and 2) inclusion of a dynamic sensory interaction between canal and otolith cues via a Kalman filter model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koeun Lim
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts; .,Program in Speech and Hearing Biosciences and Technology, Harvard-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Boston, Massachusetts; and
| | - Faisal Karmali
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts.,Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Keyvan Nicoucar
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts.,Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Daniel M Merfeld
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts.,Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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44
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Nooij SAE, Nesti A, Bülthoff HH, Pretto P. Perception of rotation, path, and heading in circular trajectories. Exp Brain Res 2016; 234:2323-37. [PMID: 27056085 PMCID: PMC4923114 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-016-4638-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 03/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
When in darkness, humans can perceive the direction and magnitude of rotations and of linear translations in the horizontal plane. The current paper addresses the integrated perception of combined translational and rotational motion, as it occurs when moving along a curved trajectory. We questioned whether the perceived motion through the environment follows the predictions of a self-motion perception model (e.g., Merfeld et al. in J Vestib Res 3:141-161, 1993; Newman in A multisensory observer model for human spatial orientation perception, 2009), which assume linear addition of rotational and translational components. For curved motion in darkness, such models predict a non-veridical motion percept, consisting of an underestimation of the perceived rotation, a distortion of the perceived travelled path, and a bias in the perceived heading (i.e., the perceived instantaneous direction of motion with respect to the body). These model predictions were evaluated in two experiments. In Experiment 1, seven participants were moved along a circular trajectory in darkness while facing the motion direction. They indicated perceived yaw rotation using an online tracking task, and perceived travelled path by drawings. In Experiment 2, the heading was systematically varied, and six participants indicated, in a 2-alternative forced-choice task, whether they perceived facing inward or outward of the circular path. Overall, we found no evidence for the heading bias predicted by the model. This suggests that the sum of the perceived rotational and translational components alone cannot adequately explain the overall perceived motion through the environment. Possibly, knowledge about motion dynamics and familiar stimuli combinations may play an important additional role in shaping the percept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne A E Nooij
- Department of Human Perception, Cognition and Action, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Alessandro Nesti
- Department of Human Perception, Cognition and Action, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Heinrich H Bülthoff
- Department of Human Perception, Cognition and Action, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Paolo Pretto
- Department of Human Perception, Cognition and Action, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
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45
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Rincon-Gonzalez L, Selen LPJ, Halfwerk K, Koppen M, Corneil BD, Medendorp WP. Decisions in motion: vestibular contributions to saccadic target selection. J Neurophysiol 2016; 116:977-85. [PMID: 27281751 DOI: 10.1152/jn.01071.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The natural world continuously presents us with many opportunities for action, and thus a process of target selection must precede action execution. While there has been considerable progress in understanding target selection in stationary environments, little is known about target selection when we are in motion. Here we investigated the effect of self-motion signals on saccadic target selection in a dynamic environment. Human subjects were sinusoidally translated (f = 0.6 Hz, 30-cm peak-to-peak displacement) along an interaural axis with a vestibular sled. During the motion two visual targets were presented asynchronously but equidistantly on either side of fixation. Subjects had to look at one of these targets as quickly as possible. With an adaptive approach, the time delay between these targets was adjusted until the subject selected both targets equally often. We determined this balanced time delay for different phases of the motion in order to distinguish the effects of body acceleration and velocity on saccadic target selection. Results show that acceleration (or position, as these are indistinguishable during sinusoidal motion), but not velocity, affects target selection for saccades. Subjects preferred to look at targets in the direction of the acceleration-the leftward target was preferred when the sled accelerated to the left, and vice versa. Saccadic reaction times mimicked this selection bias by being reliably shorter to targets in the direction of acceleration. Our results provide evidence that saccade target selection mechanisms are modulated by self-motion signals, which could be derived directly from the otolith system.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Rincon-Gonzalez
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; and
| | - L P J Selen
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; and
| | - K Halfwerk
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; and
| | - M Koppen
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; and
| | - B D Corneil
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, and Psychology, Brain and Mind Institute, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - W P Medendorp
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; and
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46
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Wang J, Lewis RF. Abnormal Tilt Perception During Centrifugation in Patients with Vestibular Migraine. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2016; 17:253-8. [PMID: 26956976 PMCID: PMC4854827 DOI: 10.1007/s10162-016-0559-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Vestibular migraine (VM), defined as vestibular symptoms caused by migraine mechanisms, is very common but poorly understood. Because dizziness is often provoked in VM patients when the semicircular canals and otolith organs are stimulated concurrently (e.g., tilting the head relative to gravity), we measured tilt perception and eye movements in patients with VM and in migraine and normal control subjects during fixed-radius centrifugation, a paradigm that simultaneously modulates afferent signals from the semicircular canals and otoliths organs. Twenty-four patients (8 in each category) were tested with a motion paradigm that generated an inter-aural centrifugal force of 0.36 G, resulting in a 20° tilt of the gravito-inertial force in the roll plane. We found that percepts of roll tilt developed slower in VM patients than in the two control groups, but that eye movement responses, including the shift in the eye's rotational axis, were equivalent in all three groups. These results demonstrate a change in vestibular perception in VM that is unaccompanied by changes in vestibular-mediated eye movements and suggest that either the brain's integration of canal and otolith signals or the dynamics of otolith responses are aberrant in patients with VM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne Wang
- Case Western University Medical School, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Richard F Lewis
- Jenks Vestibular Physiology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- , 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
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47
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Bertolini G, Straumann D. Moving in a Moving World: A Review on Vestibular Motion Sickness. Front Neurol 2016; 7:14. [PMID: 26913019 PMCID: PMC4753518 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2016.00014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2015] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Motion sickness is a common disturbance occurring in healthy people as a physiological response to exposure to motion stimuli that are unexpected on the basis of previous experience. The motion can be either real, and therefore perceived by the vestibular system, or illusory, as in the case of visual illusion. A multitude of studies has been performed in the last decades, substantiating different nauseogenic stimuli, studying their specific characteristics, proposing unifying theories, and testing possible countermeasures. Several reviews focused on one of these aspects; however, the link between specific nauseogenic stimuli and the unifying theories and models is often not clearly detailed. Readers unfamiliar with the topic, but studying a condition that may involve motion sickness, can therefore have difficulties to understand why a specific stimulus will induce motion sickness. So far, this general audience struggles to take advantage of the solid basis provided by existing theories and models. This review focuses on vestibular-only motion sickness, listing the relevant motion stimuli, clarifying the sensory signals involved, and framing them in the context of the current theories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Bertolini
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland
| | - Dominik Straumann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland
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48
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Abstract
The relative simplicity of the neural circuits that mediate vestibular reflexes is well suited for linking systems and cellular levels of analyses. Notably, a distinctive feature of the vestibular system is that neurons at the first central stage of sensory processing in the vestibular nuclei are premotor neurons; the same neurons that receive vestibular-nerve input also send direct projections to motor pathways. For example, the simplicity of the three-neuron pathway that mediates the vestibulo-ocular reflex leads to the generation of compensatory eye movements within ~5ms of a head movement. Similarly, relatively direct pathways between the labyrinth and spinal cord control vestibulospinal reflexes. A second distinctive feature of the vestibular system is that the first stage of central processing is strongly multimodal. This is because the vestibular nuclei receive inputs from a wide range of cortical, cerebellar, and other brainstem structures in addition to direct inputs from the vestibular nerve. Recent studies in alert animals have established how extravestibular signals shape these "simple" reflexes to meet the needs of current behavioral goal. Moreover, multimodal interactions at higher levels, such as the vestibular cerebellum, thalamus, and cortex, play a vital role in ensuring accurate self-motion and spatial orientation perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- K E Cullen
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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49
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Abstract
Many medical doctors consider vertigo and dizziness as the major, almost obligatory complaints in patients with vestibular disorders. In this chapter, we will explain that vestibular disorders result in much more diverse and complex complaints. Many of these other complaints are unfortunately often misinterpreted and incorrectly classified as psychogenic. When we really understand the function of the vestibular system, it becomes quite obvious why patients with vestibular disorders complain about a loss of visual acuity, imbalance, fear of falling, cognitive and attentional problems, fatigue that persists even when the vertigo attacks and dizziness decreases or even disappears. Another interesting new aspect in this chapter is that we explain why the function of the otolith system is so important, and that it is a mistake to focus on the function of the semicircular canals only, especially when we want to understand why some patients seem to suffer more than others from the loss of canal function as objectified by reduced caloric responses.
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50
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Soyka F, Bülthoff HH, Barnett-Cowan M. Integration of Semi-Circular Canal and Otolith Cues for Direction Discrimination during Eccentric Rotations. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136925. [PMID: 26322782 PMCID: PMC4555836 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 08/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans are capable of moving about the world in complex ways. Every time we move, our self-motion must be detected and interpreted by the central nervous system in order to make appropriate sequential movements and informed decisions. The vestibular labyrinth consists of two unique sensory organs the semi-circular canals and the otoliths that are specialized to detect rotation and translation of the head, respectively. While thresholds for pure rotational and translational self-motion are well understood surprisingly little research has investigated the relative role of each organ on thresholds for more complex motion. Eccentric (off-center) rotations during which the participant faces away from the center of rotation stimulate both organs and are thus well suited for investigating integration of rotational and translational sensory information. Ten participants completed a psychophysical direction discrimination task for pure head-centered rotations, translations and eccentric rotations with 5 different radii. Discrimination thresholds for eccentric rotations reduced with increasing radii, indicating that additional tangential accelerations (which increase with radius length) increased sensitivity. Two competing models were used to predict the eccentric thresholds based on the pure rotation and translation thresholds: one assuming that information from the two organs is integrated in an optimal fashion and another assuming that motion discrimination is solved solely by relying on the sensor which is most strongly stimulated. Our findings clearly show that information from the two organs is integrated. However the measured thresholds for 3 of the 5 eccentric rotations are even more sensitive than predictions from the optimal integration model suggesting additional non-vestibular sources of information may be involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Soyka
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Department: Human Perception, Cognition and Action, Tübingen, Germany
- * E-mail: (FS); (HHB)
| | - Heinrich H. Bülthoff
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Department: Human Perception, Cognition and Action, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Anamdong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, Korea
- * E-mail: (FS); (HHB)
| | - Michael Barnett-Cowan
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Department: Human Perception, Cognition and Action, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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