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Otolith-Canal Convergence In Vestibular Nuclei NeuronsThe current final report covers the period from June 1, 1999 to May 31, 2002. The primary objective of the investigation was to determine how information regarding head movements and head position relative to gravity is received and processed by central vestibular nuclei neurons in the brainstem. Specialized receptors in the vestibular labyrinths of the inner ear function to detect angular and linear accelerations of the head, with receptors located in the semicircular canals transducing rotational head movements and receptors located in the otolith organs transducing changes in head position relative to gravity or linear accelerations of the head. The information from these different receptors is then transmitted to central vestibular nuclei neurons which process the input signals, then project the appropriate output information to the eye, head, and body musculature motor neurons to control compensatory reflexes. Although a number of studies have reported on the responsiveness of vestibular nuclei neurons, it has not yet been possible to determine precisely how these cells combine the information from the different angular and linear acceleration receptors into a correct neural output signal. In the present project, rotational and linear motion stimuli were separately delivered while recording responses from vestibular nuclei neurons that were characterized according to direct input from the labyrinth and eye movement sensitivity. Responses from neurons receiving convergent input from the semicircular canals and otolith organs were quantified and compared to non-convergent neurons.
Document ID
20020070814
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Contractor or Grantee Report
Authors
Dickman, J. David
(Central Inst. for the Deaf Saint Louis, MO United States)
Si, Xiao-Hong
(Central Inst. for the Deaf Saint Louis, MO United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2002
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG2-1326
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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