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Cited by 29Vestibular and auditory disordersSpaceflight effects on biologyMotor Control and Adaptation

Mechanisms of human static spatial orientation

Bortolami, S. B., Rocca, S., Daros, S., DiZio, P., Lackner, J. R.·2006·Experimental Brain Research
DOI 10.1007/s00221-006-0387-9
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Abstract

We have developed a tri-axial model of spatial orientation applicable to static 1g and non-1g environments. The model attempts to capture the mechanics of otolith organ transduction of static linear forces and the perceptual computations performed on these sensor signals to yield subjective orientation of the vertical direction relative to the head. Our model differs from other treatments that involve computing the gravitoinertial force (GIF) vector in three independent dimensions. The perceptual component of our model embodies the idea that the central nervous system processes utricular and saccular stimuli as if they were produced by a GIF vector equal to 1g, even when it differs in magnitude, because in the course of evolution living creatures have always experienced gravity as a constant. We determine just two independent angles of head orientation relative to the vertical that are GIF dependent, the third angle being derived from the first two and being GIF independent. Somatosensory stimulation is used to resolve our vestibular model's ambiguity of the up-down directions. Our otolith mechanical model takes into account recently established non-linear behavior of the force-displacement relationship of the otoconia, and possible otoconial deflections that are not co-linear with the direction of the input force (cross-talk). The free parameters of our model relate entirely to the mechanical otolith model. They were determined by fitting the integrated mechanical/perceptual model to subjective indications of the vertical obtained during pitch and roll body tilts in 1g and 2g force backgrounds and during recumbent yaw tilts in 1g. The complete data set was fit with very little residual error. A novel prediction of the model is that background force magnitude either lower or higher than 1g will not affect subjective vertical judgments during recumbent yaw tilt. These predictions have been confirmed in recent parabolic flight experiments.

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  • A recent model of vestibular function predicts that velocity storage would be absent in 0 g because an otolith output specifying a determinate orientation would be absent.

    “A recent model of vestibular function indicates that in this circumstance, an otolith output specifying a determinate orientation would be absent and thus predicts velocity storage would be absent in 0 g (Bortolami et al. 2006).”

    From Motion sickness: more than nausea and vomiting (2014) · cites this paper as Bortolami et al. 2006

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Authors
Bortolami, S. B., Rocca, S., Daros, S., DiZio, P., & Lackner, J. R.
Affiliations
Brandeis University (US)
Corresponding author
Bortolami, S. B.
ORCID
Venue
Experimental Brain Research
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2006-04-21
Volume
173
Issue
3
Pages
374-388
ISSN
  • 0014-4819 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-1106
DOI
10.1007/s00221-006-0387-9
OpenAlex
W2060246286
Cited by
29
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 2
FWCI
1.75
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Experimental Brain Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Vestibular and auditory disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Spaceflight effects on biology
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
Keywords
subjective visual vertical, utricle, saccule, gravitoinertial force, head orientation, otoconia, body tilt, parabolic flight, vestibular perception
MeSH terms
Algorithms, Compliance, Gravitation, Humans, Orientation, Otolithic Membrane, Physical Stimulation, Posture, Space Perception, Models, Statistical, Head Movements

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