The role of canal-neck interaction for the perception of horizontal trunk and head rotation (original) (raw)
Summary
The present report considers the conscious perception of passive horizontal rotations of the trunk, the head, or both, by human observers. It examines in particular how this perception depends on the interaction of canal and neck afferents.
Three sets of sinusoidal stimulations (0.2 Hz) were applied to subjects (Ss): Rotations of (1) whole body (pure labyrinthine stimuli, λ), of (2) only the trunk with the head stationary in space (pure neck stimuli, ν), and of (3) both head and trunk, each with an amplitude and a direction of its own, giving rise to various in-phase and counter phase combinations of λ and ν. — The Ss were to estimate the magnitude of their turning sensations (ψ). In doing so, they were to concentrate either on the rotation of their trunk in space (TS) or of their head in space (HS), or of the head relative to the trunk (HT).
The TS and HS turning sensations induced by pure λ-stimuli were essentially the same as to magnitude and direction. Pure ν-stimulation also led to TS and HS turning sensations. However, the former had the direction of the trunk-to-head \(\left( {\hat - TS} \right)\) deflection, the latter that of the head-to-trunk deflection. The ν-induced HS turning sensation represented an illusion, since the head remained stationary in space. When the λ- and ν-stimuli were combined, the interaction could be described by a linear summation of their effects. The estimates of TS turning followed the equation ψ TS ∼ λ-ν, thus well reflecting the actual TS rotation. The estimates of HS could be described by ψ HS ∼ λ+kv; the term kv represents the “ν-illusion” contaminating the HS turning sensation. The estimates of HT turning were roughly proportional to ν alone and, therefore, close to the actual HT rotation.
We conclude that humans may derive a rather faithful information about trunk rotation from the combined activation of canal and neck afferents, but that the sensation of passive head rotation is contaminated by an (illusionary) contribution from neck afferents. These additive and subtractive modes of interaction have parallels in postural reflexes as well as in neuronal responses that are known from cat.
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Authors and Affiliations
- Abt. Neurologie und Sektion Neurophysiologie, Universität Ulm, Steinhövelstr. 9, D-7900, Ulm, Germany
T. Mergner, G. L. Nardi, W. Becker & L. Deecke
Authors
- T. Mergner
- G. L. Nardi
- W. Becker
- L. Deecke
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Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
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Mergner, T., Nardi, G.L., Becker, W. et al. The role of canal-neck interaction for the perception of horizontal trunk and head rotation.Exp Brain Res 49, 198–208 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238580
- Received: 17 May 1982
- Issue date: February 1983
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238580