Summary
Measurements are made of manual control performance in the closed-loop task of nulling perceived self-rotation velocity about an earth-vertical axis. Self-velocity estimation is modeled as a function of the simultaneous presentation of vestibular and peripheral visual field motion cues. Based on measured low-frequency operator behavior in three visual field environments, a parallel channel linear model is proposed which has separate visual and vestibular pathways summing in a complementary manner. A dual-input describing function analysis supports the complementary model; vestibular cues dominate sensation at higher frequencies. The describing function model is extended by the proposal of a non-linear cue conflict model, in which cue weighting depends on the level of agreement between visual and vestibular cues.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allum JHJ, Graf W, Dichgans J, Schmidt CL (1976) Visualvestibular interactions in the vestibular nuclei of the goldfish. Exp Brain Res 26: 463–485
Berthoz A, Pavard B, Young LR (1975) Perception of linear horizontal self motion induced by peripheral vision (linearvection). Exp Brain Res 23: 471–489
Brandt Th, Dichgans J, Koenig E (1973) Differential effects of central versus peripheral vision on egocentric and exocentric motion perception. Exp Brain Res 16: 476–491
Cohen B, Matsuo V, Raphan T (1977) Quantitative analysis of the velocity characteristics of optokinetic after-nystagmus. J Physiol (Lond) 270: 321–344
Daunton N, Thomsen D (1979) Visual modulation of otolith dependent units in cat vestibular nuclei. Exp Brain Res 37: 173–176
Dichgans J, Schmidt CL, Graf W (1973) Visual input improves the speedometer function of the vestibular nuclei of the goldfish. Exp Brain Res 18: 319–322
Henn V, Young LR, Finley C (1974) Vestibular nuclei in alert monkeys are also influenced by moving visual fields. Brain Res 71: 144–149
Huang J, Young LR (1981) Sensation of rotation about a vertical axis with a fixed visual field in different illuminations and in the dark. Exp Brain Res 41: 172–183
Melvill Jones G, Barry W, Kowalski N (1964) Dynamics of the semicircular canals compared in yaw, pitch, and roll. Aerosp Med 35: 984–989
Oosterveld WJ (1970) Threshold value for stimulation of the horizontal canals. Aerosp Med 41: 386–389
Poulton EC (1968) The new psychophysics: Six models for magnitude estimation. Psychol Bull 69: 1–18
Van Egmond AAT, Green TT, Tongkees LBW (1949) The mechanics of the semicircular canal. J Physiol (Lond) 110: 1–17
Waespe W, Henn V (1977) Neuronal activity in the vestibular nuclei of the alert monkey during vestibular and optokinetic stimulation. Exp Brain Res 27: 523–538
Waespe W, Henn V (1979) The velocity response of vestibular nucleus neurons during vestibular, visual, and combined angular accelerations. Exp Brain Res 37: 337–347
Young LR (1970) On visual vestibular interaction. NASA Fifth Symposium on the Role of the Vestibular Organs in Space Exploration. NASA SP-314
Young LR, Dichgans J, Murphy R, Brandt Th (1973) Interaction of optokinetic and vestibular stimuli in motion perception. Acta Otolaryngol 76: 24–31
Young LR, Oman CM (1974) Influence of head position and field position on visually induced motion effects in three axes of rotation. Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Conference on Manual Control MIT, Cambridge, MA
Young LR, Oman CM, Dichgans J (1975) Influence of head orientation on visually induced pitch and roll. Aviat Space Environ Med 46: 264–268
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Research supported in part by NASA Grants NSG 2032 and 2230. GLZ supported by an NIH National Research Service Award. GLZ currently at Bolt Beranek and Newman, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zacharias, G.L., Young, L.R. Influence of combined visual and vestibular cues on human perception and control of horizontal rotation. Exp Brain Res 41, 159–171 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236605
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236605