Potential solutions to several vestibular challenges facing clinicians

Merfeld, Daniel M.; Priesol, Adrian J.; Lee, Daniel; Lewis, Richard

doi:10.3233/ves-2010-0347

Cited by 37 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 51 publications

(49 reference statements)

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“…Apart from advancing our basic understanding of the vestibular system, a better modeling stage could also be exploited in more applied contexts such as in the diagnosis of people with vestibular-related complaints (Merfeld et al 2010). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting direction detection thresholds for arbitrary translational acceleration profiles in the horizontal plane

et al. 2011

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In previous research, direction detection thresholds have been measured and successfully modeled by exposing participants to sinusoidal acceleration profiles of different durations. In this paper, we present measurements that reveal differences in thresholds depending not only on the duration of the profile, but also on the actual time course of the acceleration. The measurements are further explained by a model based on a transfer function, which is able to predict direction detection thresholds for all types of acceleration profiles. In order to quantify a participant’s ability to detect the direction of motion in the horizontal plane, a four-alternative forced-choice task was implemented. Three types of acceleration profiles (sinusoidal, trapezoidal and triangular) were tested for three different durations (1.5, 2.36 and 5.86 s). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study which varies both quantities (profile and duration) in a systematic way within a single experiment. The lowest thresholds were found for trapezoidal profiles and the highest for triangular profiles. Simulations for frequencies lower than the ones actually measured predict a change from this behavior: Sinusoidal profiles are predicted to yield the highest thresholds at low frequencies. This qualitative prediction is only possible with a model that is able to predict thresholds for different types of acceleration profiles. Our modeling approach represents an important advancement, because it allows for a more general and accurate description of perceptual thresholds for simple and complex translational motions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting direction detection thresholds for arbitrary translational acceleration profiles in the horizontal plane

et al. 2011

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“…A better understanding of pilots’ perception over wide motion intensities also allows for more effective simulator training protocols in extreme conditions with the goal of better prediction and avoidance of accidents. Furthermore, in the medical diagnosis of balance disorders, psychophysical tests (Merfeld et al 2010 ) could supplement currently used eye movement tests (Bárány 1921 ; Halmagyi and Curthoys 1988 ) in cases where eye movement cannot be measured (Merfeld et al 2010 ) or to specifically measure perception since self-motion perception and ocular reflexes do not always match (MacGrath et al 1995 ; Merfeld et al 2005a , b ; Wood et al 2007 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-motion sensitivity to visual yaw rotations in humans

et al. 2014

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While moving through the environment, humans use vision to discriminate different self-motion intensities and to control their actions (e.g. maintaining balance or controlling a vehicle). How the intensity of visual stimuli affects self-motion perception is an open, yet important, question. In this study, we investigate the human ability to discriminate perceived velocities of visually induced illusory self-motion (vection) around the vertical (yaw) axis. Stimuli, generated using a projection screen (70 × 90 deg field of view), consist of a natural virtual environment (360 deg panoramic colour picture of a forest) rotating at constant velocity. Participants control stimulus duration to allow for a complete vection illusion to occur in every single trial. In a two-interval forced-choice task, participants discriminate a reference motion from a comparison motion, adjusted after every presentation, by indicating which rotation feels stronger. Motion sensitivity is measured as the smallest perceivable change in stimulus intensity (differential threshold) for eight participants at five rotation velocities (5, 15, 30, 45 and 60 deg/s). Differential thresholds for circular vection increase with stimulus velocity, following a trend well described by a power law with an exponent of 0.64. The time necessary for complete vection to arise is slightly but significantly longer for the first stimulus presentation (average 11.56 s) than for the second (9.13 s) and does not depend on stimulus velocity. Results suggest that lower differential thresholds (higher sensitivity) are associated with smaller rotations, because they occur more frequently during everyday experience. Moreover, results also suggest that vection is facilitated by a recent exposure, possibly related to visual motion after-effect.

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“…Experimental data on self-motion perception have been used in the past to develop mathematical models that describe the internal processes underlying self-motion perception [ 44 – 46 ]. The potential of these models to compute an internal representation (or percept) of the physical self-motion of an observer is of great value for a variety of applied fields, such as for example vehicle motion simulation [ 47 – 49 ] or the diagnosis of clinical disorders [ 50 ]. Nevertheless, these perception models are of a deterministic nature, and cannot therefore capture the variability of individual responses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accumulation of Inertial Sensory Information in the Perception of Whole Body Yaw Rotation

2017

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While moving through the environment, our central nervous system accumulates sensory information over time to provide an estimate of our self-motion, allowing for completing crucial tasks such as maintaining balance. However, little is known on how the duration of the motion stimuli influences our performances in a self-motion discrimination task. Here we study the human ability to discriminate intensities of sinusoidal (0.5 Hz) self-rotations around the vertical axis (yaw) for four different stimulus durations (1, 2, 3 and 5 s) in darkness. In a typical trial, participants experienced two consecutive rotations of equal duration and different peak amplitude, and reported the one perceived as stronger. For each stimulus duration, we determined the smallest detectable change in stimulus intensity (differential threshold) for a reference velocity of 15 deg/s. Results indicate that differential thresholds decrease with stimulus duration and asymptotically converge to a constant, positive value. This suggests that the central nervous system accumulates sensory information on self-motion over time, resulting in improved discrimination performances. Observed trends in differential thresholds are consistent with predictions based on a drift diffusion model with leaky integration of sensory evidence.

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Potential solutions to several vestibular challenges facing clinicians

Cited by 37 publications

References 51 publications

Predicting direction detection thresholds for arbitrary translational acceleration profiles in the horizontal plane

Predicting direction detection thresholds for arbitrary translational acceleration profiles in the horizontal plane

Self-motion sensitivity to visual yaw rotations in humans

Accumulation of Inertial Sensory Information in the Perception of Whole Body Yaw Rotation

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