Dynamic Processing of Otolith Signals During Translation

描述（由申请人提供）：前庭眼反射（VORs）发挥 作为集成凝视控制系统的一部分， 在运动过程中感知环境。而旋转VOR（RVOR） 已经在行为和神经生理学水平上得到了很好的表征， 翻译VOR（TVOR）背后的神经电路和计算 不太被理解。尽管有类似的功能目标，但不同的时间 在感觉和运动水平上的反射特性意味着需要 对耳道和耳石信号进行不同的动态处理。此外，委员会认为， 翻译过程中适当的反射行为是复杂的， 对于眼睛偏离的幅度和方向的瞬间变化 作为当前观看位置和前进方向的函数。研究 因此，TVOR及其依赖于上下文的性能具有广泛的相关性， 研究基本的中枢神经系统策略， 反射性和自主性运动行为的整合。建议的目标 项目是确定战略和神经元负责 在TVOR中前庭信号的动态变换，使用 一种跨学科的方法，将双目眼动记录与 单单位电生理学和计算建模研究。这项研究将 专注于表征脑干神经元， 头和眼睛运动信号。实验数据将 在以前的建模调查和理论的背景下进行评估， 将根据需要扩大和修改工作，以纳入新的调查结果。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The vestibulo-ocular reflexes (VORs) play an essential role as part of an integrated gaze control system to ensure stable perception of the environment during movement. While the rotational VOR (RVOR) has been well characterized at both behavioral and neurophysiological levels, the neural circuitry and computations underlying the translational VOR (TVOR) are less well understood. Despite similar functional goals, distinct temporal properties of the reflexes at both sensory and motor levels imply a requirement for different dynamic processing of canal and otolith signals. Furthermore, appropriate reflex behavior during translation is complicated by the requirement for moment-to-moment changes in the amplitude and direction of ocular deviations as a function of both current viewing location and heading direction. The study of the TVOR and its context-dependent performance thus has broad relevance in investigating basic central nervous system strategies for the successful integration of reflexive and voluntary motor behaviors. The goal of the proposed project is to identify both the strategy and the neural elements responsible for the dynamic transformation of vestibular signals in the TVOR, using an interdisciplinary approach that combines binocular eye movement recordings with single unit electrophysiology and computational modeling studies. The study will focus on the characterization of brainstem neurons that carry combinations of head and eye movement signals during translation. Experimental data will be evaluated in the context of previous modeling investigations and theoretical work will be extended and modified as required to incorporate new findings.