Multiple Sensory Cues Underlying the Perception of Translation and Path

• Published in: Journal of neurophysiology 2007-02, Vol.97 (2), p.1100-1113
• Main Authors: Yong, N. Au, Paige, G. D, Seidman, S. H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acceleration; Acoustic Stimulation; Adult; Cues; Head Movements - physiology; Humans; Male; Motion Perception - physiology; Neural Pathways - physiology; Orientation - physiology; Otolithic Membrane - physiology; Physical Stimulation; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Psychophysics; Rotation; Sensation - physiology; Vibration
• ISSN: 0022-3077; 1522-1598
• DOI: 10.1152/jn.00694.2006

1 Departments of Biomedical Engineering and 2 Neurobiology and Anatomy, 3 Centers for Visual Science and 4 Communication and Navigation Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York; and 5 Present Affiliation: Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Submitted 5 July 2006; accepted in final form 15 November 2006 The translational linear vestibuloocular reflex compensates most accurately for high frequencies of head translation, with response magnitude decreasing with declining stimulus frequency. However, studies of the perception of translation typically report robust responses even at low frequencies or during prolonged motion. This inconsistency may reflect the incorporation of nondirectional sensory information associated with the vibration and noise that typically accompany translation, into motion perception. We investigated the perception of passive translation in humans while dissociating nondirectional cues from actual head motion. In a cue-dissociation experiment, interaural (IA) motion was generated using either a linear sled, the mechanics of which generated noise and vibration cues that were correlated with the motion profile, or a multiaxis technique that dissociated these cues from actual motion. In a trajectory-shift experiment, IA motion was interrupted by a sudden change in direction (±30° diagonal) that produced a change in linear acceleration while maintaining sled speed and therefore mechanical (nondirectional) cues. During multi-axis cue-dissociation trials, subjects reported erroneous translation perceptions that strongly reflected the pattern of nondirectional cues, as opposed to nearly veridical percepts when motion and nondirectional cues coincided. During trajectory-shift trials, subjects' percepts were initially accurate, but erroneous following the direction change. Results suggest that nondirectional cues strongly influence the perception of linear motion, while the utility of cues directly related to translational acceleration is limited. One key implication is that "path integration" likely involves complex mechanisms that depend on nondirectional and contextual self-motion cues in support of limited and transient otolith-dependent acceleration input. Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: S. H. Seidman, Dept. of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Rochester Medical Center, Box 603, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642, E-mail: scott.seidman{at}rochester.edu )