Magnitude estimates of the oculogyral illusion during and following angular acceleration

Simulating self-motion

In general, vehicle motions far exceed the mechanical constraints of an earth-fixed simulator base. Inertial motions can, therefore, only be simulated in partial agreement with those of the actual vehicle. As a consequence, physical mismatches between inertial and environmental motion are inevitable. Here, the concept of a subjective reference frame is introduced, relative to which perceived self-motion is defined. This frame must be released from the earth-fixed frame to evoke simulated self-motion. In addition, self-motion and environmental motion need to be perceived reciprocal, in order to evoke a stationary perceived environment. Due to the only limited accuracy of human self-motion perception, however, perceived self-motion and perceived environmental motion need not to be exactly reciprocal. The extent to which self-motion and environmental motion may differ can be expressed by a just noticeable difference. This just noticeable difference denotes the threshold at which the environment is perceived to move. In this article, a self-motion perception model is outlined in which perceived environmental motion and perceived self-motion are separated. The perception model and the just noticeable differences can then be applied to determine the inertial stimulation that is needed to evoke perceived self-motion, in which the environment is perceived stationary throughout simulation.

Optimal estimator model for human spatial orientation

A model is presented to predict human dynamic spatial orientation in response to multisensory stimuli. Motion stimuli are first processed by dynamic models of the visual, vestibular, tactile, and proprioceptive sensors. Central nervous system function is modeled as a steady state Kalman filter that optimally blends information from the various sensors to form an estimate of spatial orientation. Where necessary, nonlinear elements preprocess inputs to the linear central estimator in order to reflect more accurately some nonlinear human response characteristics. Computer implementation of the model has shown agreement with several important qualitative characteristics of human spatial orientation.

The effect of a moving foveal target on the subjective sensation of motion

In this paper, we report on two experiments concerning the effect of the visual field of fovea on the subjective estimation of angular velocity. Experiment 1 investigates the effect of a slow moving target on the perception of self motion. The result of this experiment can be summarized as follows: a slow moving target seen in the visual field of fovea by a stationary person generates in this person a sensation of self rotation in the same direction as the motion of the target. This phenomenon will be called foveal induced ego motion. Experiment 2 investigates the latency for the detection of a self angular acceleration when the person focusses his fovea on a slowly moving target. From the results of this experiment we conclude that the latency for detection of a small self angular acceleration is shorter if the person sees a small foveal target moving with respect to the person in the direction of self rotation than if that small foveal target is moving (with respect to the person) in the opposite direction. The results of these experiments help us in refining existing models of visual-vestibular interaction, by providing a model which accounts for the phenomenon of oculogyral illusion.