Investigating the neuro-cognitive fundaments of the perception of illusory self-motion

自我运动的感知是通过整合不同的感觉信息来引导的，包括视觉、前庭(内耳)和本体感觉(肌肉和关节的位置)提示。这些感官传递的信息通常是一致的，从而产生对空间运动的全球、准确的感知。然而，在某些情况下，也可以体验到虚幻的自我运动或向往(即，尽管没有真正的身体运动，但仍有自我运动的感觉)。现实世界中的错觉的一个例子是火车错觉，坐在一列静止的火车上，看到邻近的火车在移动，就会产生一种自己的火车在移动的错觉。在模拟器或虚拟现实(VR)中，也可以在刺激很大一部分视场的情况下观察到矢量，并在这些应用中发挥重要作用。*视觉刺激的神经认知基础尚不清楚。这项研究计划的总体目标是通过结合心理生理学和行为方法来填补这一空白。具体目标包括：(1)使用脑电(EEG)识别感知向量时大脑皮层活动的时间和空间方面。(2)研究多感觉线索(视觉、听觉、触觉)的组合对视觉神经认知反应的影响。(3)确定认知因素，如语境信息，在多大程度上影响脑电中的视觉及其检测。*这项研究计划将使用两个身临其境的VR实验室进行，这两个实验室是多伦多康复研究所研究设施的一部分：StreetLab，配备了带有地板投影和环绕立体声的大型曲面投影屏幕；以及StereoProLab，提供将图像立体投影到大屏幕和覆盖大部分视野的多屏幕阵列上。这两个设施都已被证明能够可靠地产生视觉，并将允许系统地操纵感觉信息。向量将通过自我报告(向量开始、偏移量、持续时间和强度)进行测量。这两个实验室将使用32通道脑电系统来测量病毒感染阶段的大脑活动。*本研究将在多个层面上产生影响：(1)提高对向量的理论理解。(2)识别与视觉主观体验相关的客观神经认知标记物。(3)开发使用虚拟环境的应用程序，在虚拟环境中，虚拟现实往往是一种理想的现象，例如在训练和康复方面使用虚拟现实。

The perception of self-motion is guided by the integration of different sensory information, including visual, vestibular (inner-ears), and proprioceptive (position of the muscles and joints) cues. Information delivered by these senses is typically congruent, giving rise to a global, accurate perception of movement through space. However, under certain circumstances illusory self-motion or vection (i.e., self-motion perception despite the absence of real, physical movement) can also be experienced. An example for vection in real-world situation is the train illusion, whereby sitting in a stationary train and seeing a neighboring train moving creates the illusion that one's own train is moving. Vection can also be observed in situations that stimulate a large proportion of the visual field, such as in simulators or virtual reality (VR) and plays an important role in these applications. ***The neuro-cognitive fundaments of vection are still unknown. The overall goal of this research program is to fill this gap by combining psychophysiological and behavioral methods. The specific objectives include: (1) Identifying the temporal and spatial aspects of cortical activity during the perception of vection using electroencephalography (EEG). (2) Investigating how the combination of multisensory cues (visual, auditory, haptic) affects the neuro-cognitive responses with respect to vection. (3) Determining the extent to which cognitive aspects, e.g. contextual information, influence vection and its detection in the EEG. ***This research program will be conducted using two immersive VR laboratories that are part of Toronto Rehabilitation Institute's research facilities: StreetLab, equipped with a large, curved projection screen with floor projection and surround sound; and, StereoProLab, which offers stereoscopic projection of images onto a large screen and an array of multiple screens covering a large proportion of the visual field. Both facilities have been proven to reliably generate vection and will allow to systematically manipulate sensory information. Vection will be measured through self-reports (vection onset, offset, duration, and intensity). A 32-channel EEG system will be used in both laboratories to measure brain activity during phases of vection. ***This research will have impact on multiple levels: (1) Improving the theoretical understanding of vection. (2) Identification of objective neuro-cognitive markers that correlate with the subjective experience of vection. (3) Development of applications that use virtual environments where vection is often a desired phenomenon, e.g. the use of VR in the context of training and rehabilitation.