4.3 Motion perception and vestibular system

Motion perception and the vestibular system are crucial for our sense of balance and spatial orientation. They work together to help us navigate the world, stabilize our vision, and maintain our posture.

Understanding these systems is key to designing effective VR experiences. By considering how our brains process motion and balance information, we can create more immersive and comfortable virtual environments.

Vestibular System and Components

Vestibular System Anatomy and Function

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• Vestibular system provides information about head position, motion, and spatial orientation
  • Located in the inner ear within the temporal bone
  • Consists of semicircular canals and otolith organs (utricle and saccule)
  • Helps maintain balance, stabilize vision during head movements, and provides a sense of spatial orientation
• Semicircular canals detect rotational movements of the head
  • Three fluid-filled loops arranged perpendicular to each other
  • Contain sensory hair cells that detect fluid movement caused by head rotation
  • Each canal is sensitive to rotation in a specific plane (horizontal, anterior, and posterior)
  • Endolymph fluid within the canals moves in response to head rotation, deflecting the hair cells and sending signals to the brain
• Otolith organs (utricle and saccule) detect linear acceleration and head tilt
  • Contain sensory hair cells embedded in a gelatinous matrix with calcium carbonate crystals called otoconia
  • Otoconia shift due to gravity or linear acceleration, bending the hair cells and generating signals
  • Utricle detects horizontal linear acceleration and head tilt
  • Saccule detects vertical linear acceleration and head tilt
• Vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) stabilizes vision during head movements
  • Reflexive eye movements that compensate for head motion
  • Allows the eyes to maintain a stable image on the retina during head rotation or translation
  • Semicircular canals and otolith organs provide input to the VOR
  • Example: When the head turns to the right, the eyes move to the left to maintain gaze on a fixed point

Motion Perception and Effects

Vection and Optic Flow

• Vection is the illusory perception of self-motion induced by visual stimuli
  • Occurs when a large portion of the visual field moves, creating the sensation of moving through space
  • Can be induced by optic flow patterns, such as those experienced in virtual reality or simulators
  • Example: Sitting in a stationary train while another train moves past, creating the illusion of self-motion
• Optic flow refers to the pattern of apparent motion of objects in the visual field caused by relative motion between the observer and the environment
  • Provides information about the direction and speed of self-motion
  • Radial optic flow patterns (expanding or contracting) indicate forward or backward motion
  • Lamellar optic flow patterns (horizontal or vertical) indicate lateral or vertical motion
  • Example: The expanding pattern of stars in a "warp speed" effect in science fiction movies

Motion Sickness and Proprioception

• Motion sickness occurs when there is a mismatch between visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive information
  • Symptoms include nausea, dizziness, sweating, and disorientation
  • Can be triggered by conflicting sensory inputs, such as reading in a moving vehicle or experiencing virtual reality
  • Theories suggest that motion sickness is an evolutionary response to protect against neurotoxins (neural mismatch theory) or a result of postural instability (postural instability theory)
• Proprioception is the sense of the relative position and movement of body parts
  • Provided by sensory receptors in muscles, tendons, and joints (proprioceptors)
  • Contributes to the perception of self-motion and body position in space
  • Helps maintain balance and coordinate movements
  • Example: Closing your eyes and touching your nose relies on proprioceptive information