Vestibular processing during natural self-motion: implications for perception and action

• Published in: Nature reviews. Neuroscience 2019-06, Vol.20 (6), p.346-363
• Main Author: Cullen, Kathleen E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/378/116/2395; 631/378/2617/1368; 631/378/2617/1780; 631/378/2619/1592; 631/378/2629/1779; 631/378/3917; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animals; Behavioral Sciences; Biological Techniques; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brain research; Gravity; Hair; Humans; Information systems; Motion detection; Motion Perception - physiology; Motor task performance; Movement - physiology; Neural Pathways - physiology; Neurobiology; Neurons; Neurosciences; Perception; Perceptual-motor processes; Physiological aspects; Review Article; Self image; Space Perception - physiology; Vestibular apparatus; Vestibular system; Vestibule, Labyrinth - physiology
• ISSN: 1471-003X; 1471-0048; 1469-3178
• DOI: 10.1038/s41583-019-0153-1

How the brain computes accurate estimates of our self-motion relative to the world and our orientation relative to gravity in order to ensure accurate perception and motor control is a fundamental neuroscientific question. Recent experiments have revealed that the vestibular system encodes this information during everyday activities using pathway-specific neural representations. Furthermore, new findings have established that vestibular signals are selectively combined with extravestibular information at the earliest stages of central vestibular processing in a manner that depends on the current behavioural goal. These findings have important implications for our understanding of the brain mechanisms that ensure accurate perception and behaviour during everyday activities and for our understanding of disorders of vestibular processing. In addition to ensuring stable gaze and posture, the vestibular system contributes to the perception of self-motion and orientation. In this Review, Cullen provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in our understanding of sensory encoding and integration in the vestibular pathways.