Vestibular Responses of Rostral Fastigial Neurons

描述（由申请人提供）：准确的空间方位意识是来自多个来源和不同坐标系统的感觉信号的复杂多维相互作用的结果，是保持姿势和正在进行的自愿活动的基础。来自耳石、半规管和肌肉本体感受受体的信号是中枢神经系统执行身体姿势和运动反射控制所需的感觉信号的例子。小脑深部核是一些已知的前庭和本体感觉系统信号汇合的部位。该项目的目的有三个：(1)利用三维旋转和平移的组合研究吻侧顶核（rFN）前庭神经元的前庭会聚模式；(2)研究一些rFN神经元是否选择性地编码平移并忽略与重力相关的头部方向变化。本项目旨在通过结合平移和倾斜运动刺激的方案定量地检验这一假设。(3)研究平移运动的编码坐标系。具体来说，我们假设存在编码身体坐标平移运动的rFN神经元。使用各种组合的前庭刺激和单一单位电生理学，许多关系将被检查。这些结果对于提高我们对小脑深部核的功能作用以及耳石/耳管会聚在中央前庭系统中的意义的理解具有重要意义。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Accurate awareness of spatial orientation, which results from complex multidimensional interactions of sensory signals originating from multiple sources and different coordinate systems, is fundamental in maintaining posture as well as ongoing voluntary activities. Signals originating from otolith, semicircular canal, and muscle proprioceptive receptors are examples of such sensory cues required by the CNS to execute reflex control of body posture and movement. The deep cerebellar nuclei are some of the known sites of signal convergence from vestibular and proprioceptive systems. The aims of the proposed project are threefold: (1) To investigate vestibular convergence patterns in the rostral fastigial nucleus (rFN) vestibular only neurons using combinations of 3D rotations and translations (2) To investigate if some of the rFN neurons selectively encode translations and ignore changes in head orientations in relation to gravity. This project aims to quantitatively test this hypothesis using protocols with combinations of translational and tilt motion stimuli. (3) To investigate the coordinate system of encoding translational motion. Specifically, we have hypothesized that there exist rFN neurons that encode translational motion in body coordinates. Using a variety of combinations of vestibular stimulations and single unit electrophysiology, numerous relationships will be examined. The results are important in improving our understanding of the functional role of the deep cerebellar nuclei and of the significance of otolith/canal convergence in the central vestibular system.