Recent studies have shown that reflexes and perception evoked by vestibular cues can utilize qualitatively different mechanisms;yet there is a paucity of knowledge regarding vestibular perception. This may be why large percentages of vestibular patients report perceptual deficits that are undiagnosed. Regardless of explanation, the underlying causes of many perceptual deficits are not diagnosed. With the exception of the subjective visual vertical test, quantitative clinical tests focus exclusively on reflexive responses. However, the best way to assay undiagnosed motion perception symptoms is via perceptual testing. Therefore, the clinical goal for the research proposed herein is to establish precise efficient methods to quantify motion perception in general and, more specifically, to assay perceptual thresholds. To achieve these clinical goals, we propose patient testing alongside basic science studies. Specifically, one basic science goal of this proposal is to determine thresholds for rotation, translation, and tilt as functions of frequency. To our surprise, tilt thresholds evoked by dynamic tilt stimuli have never been reported. Furthermore, our knowledge of rotation and translation thresholds as a function of frequency - crucial both for clinical testing and for a scientific understanding of the dynamics of vestibular perception - is limited. Using threshold tests, we also propose to study another fundamental characteristic of vestibular perception. Specifically we propose to study the coordinate frame(s) utilized for motion perception. While we focus on perception, we also propose to measure VOR thresholds. To accomplish all of the above goals, we propose a comprehensive set of studies using patients, monkeys, and """"""""normals"""""""" to achieve the following specific aims: SA 1. Measure perceptual thresholds in """"""""normal"""""""" humans for A) rotations about an earth-vertical axis (canal only), B) for translations (otolith only), and C) for tilts (canal &otolith) across a wide range of frequencies. SA 2. Measure both perceptual and VOR thresholds for yaw rotation (canal only), inter-aural translation (otolith only) and roll tilt (canal and otolith) in rhesus monkeys. SA 3. Measure perceptual thresholds for rotation, translation, and tilt in patients suffering known vestibular disorders.

Public Health Relevance

Large percentages of vestibular patients report perceptual deficits (e.g., illusory sway motions) that are undiagnosed. With the exception of the subjective visual vertical test, which assays integration of static visual and static tilt cues, quantitative clinical tests focus exclusively on reflexive responses (e.g., posture, VOR, etc.). It seems likely that the best way to assay undiagnosed motion perception symptoms is via perceptual testing using dynamic motion stimuli. Therefore, the clinical goal for the research proposed herein is to establish precise efficient methods to quantify motion perception in general and, more specifically, to assay perceptual thresholds.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DC004158-10
Application #
7934468
Study Section
Sensorimotor Integration Study Section (SMI)
Program Officer
Platt, Christopher
Project Start
1999-08-01
Project End
2014-08-31
Budget Start
2010-09-01
Budget End
2011-08-31
Support Year
10
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$555,436
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Department
Type
DUNS #
073825945
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02114
Lim, Koeun; Karmali, Faisal; Nicoucar, Keyvan et al. (2017) Perceptual precision of passive body tilt is consistent with statistically optimal cue integration. J Neurophysiol 117:2037-2052
Karmali, Faisal; Chaudhuri, Shomesh E; Yi, Yongwoo et al. (2016) Determining thresholds using adaptive procedures and psychometric fits: evaluating efficiency using theory, simulations, and human experiments. Exp Brain Res 234:773-89
Merfeld, Daniel M; Clark, Torin K; Lu, Yue M et al. (2016) Dynamics of individual perceptual decisions. J Neurophysiol 115:39-59
Yi, Yongwoo; Merfeld, Daniel M (2016) A quantitative confidence signal detection model: 1. Fitting psychometric functions. J Neurophysiol 115:1932-45
Clark, Torin K; Newman, Michael C; Oman, Charles M et al. (2015) Human perceptual overestimation of whole body roll tilt in hypergravity. J Neurophysiol 113:2062-77
Clark, Torin K; Newman, Michael C; Merfeld, Daniel M et al. (2015) Human manual control performance in hyper-gravity. Exp Brain Res 233:1409-20
Karmali, Faisal; Lim, Koeun; Merfeld, Daniel M (2014) Visual and vestibular perceptual thresholds each demonstrate better precision at specific frequencies and also exhibit optimal integration. J Neurophysiol 111:2393-403
Priesol, Adrian J; Valko, Yulia; Merfeld, Daniel M et al. (2014) Motion Perception in Patients with Idiopathic Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 150:1040-2
Mardirossian, Vartan; Karmali, Faisal; Merfeld, Daniel (2014) Thresholds for human perception of roll tilt motion: patterns of variability based on visual, vestibular, and mixed cues. Otol Neurotol 35:857-60
Chaudhuri, Shomesh E; Karmali, Faisal; Merfeld, Daniel M (2013) Whole body motion-detection tasks can yield much lower thresholds than direction-recognition tasks: implications for the role of vibration. J Neurophysiol 110:2764-72

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