DECODING OF GRAVICEPTOR CUES, INCLUDING ADAPTIVE CHANGES

本研究的长期目标是了解来自半规管（测量旋转）和视觉系统（测量方向和运动）的感觉线索如何影响耳石器官（测量重力和线性加速度）的感觉线索的解释。为了实现这一目标，本研究将重点研究由重力环境变化引起的耳石线索解释中的适应性变化。了解前庭代偿和动态适应背后的这些关键系统级过程，将为促进有针对性的行为方法的发展提供基础，以管理平衡和前庭紊乱以及适应改变的重力环境。这项赠款的七个具体目标是：1。研究人类神经系统如何将耳石测量的重力惯性力分解为1g环境下的重力和线性加速度的估计。2. 研究神经系统如何在超重力环境中将重力惯性力分解为重力和线性加速度的估计。3. 研究人类神经系统如何将耳石测量的重力惯性力分解为超重力环境下的重力和线性加速度估计的适应性变化。4. 调查在多大程度上对高频惯性刺激的反应，通常主要解释为平移，可以适应产生增加的倾斜反应。5. 调查对低频惯性刺激（通常主要解释为倾斜）的反应在多大程度上可以适应以产生增加的平移反应。6. 研究重力感受器介导的倾斜和翻译在多大程度上发生了上下文特异性适应。7. 开发和测试我们的视觉-前庭互动的系统方法模型。实验的具体目的将通过测量眼球运动和知觉反应来解决。建模的具体目标将通过数值计算机模拟来解决。

The long term goal of this research is to understand how sensory cues from the semicircular canals (measuring rotation) and the visual system (measuring orientation and motion) influence the interpretation of sensory cues from the otolith organs (measuring gravity and linear acceleration). To accomplish this goal, this proposal focuses on the study of adaptive changes in the interpretation of otolith cues caused by transitions to altered gravitational environments. Understanding these key systems-level processes underlying vestibular compensation and dynamic adaptation will provide the foundation to facilitate the development of targeted behavioral approaches for the management of balance and vestibular disorders and adaptation to altered gravitational environments. The seven specific aims of this grant are: 1. Investigate how the human nervous system resolves otolith measurements of gravito-inertial force into estimates of gravity and linear acceleration in a 1-G environment. 2. Investigate how the nervous system resolves gravito-inertial force into estimates of gravity and linear acceleration in hypergravic environments. 3. Investigate adaptive changes in how the human nervous system resolves otolith measurement of gravito-inertial force into estimates of gravity and linear acceleration in hypergravic environments. 4. Investigate to what extent responses to high frequency inertial stimuli, normally interpreted primarily as translation, can be adapted to yield increased tilt responses. 5. Investigate to what extent responses to low frequency inertial stimuli, normally interpreted primarily as tilt, can be adapted to yield increased translation responses. 6. Investigate to what extent context specific adaptation of graviceptor mediated tilt and translation occurs. 7. Develop and test our systems approach model of visual-vestibular interactions. The experimental specific aims will be addressed by measuring eye movements and perceptual responses. The modeling specific aim will be addressed using numerical computer simulations.