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Related Concept Videos

The Vestibular System

The Vestibular System

The vestibular system is a set of inner ear structures that provide a sense of balance and spatial orientation. This system is comprised of structures within the labyrinth of the inner ear, including the cochlea and two otolith organs—the utricle and saccule. The labyrinth also contains three semicircular canals—superior, posterior, and horizontal—that are oriented on different planes.

Depth Perception and Spatial Vision

Depth Perception and Spatial Vision

Depth perception is the ability to perceive objects three-dimensionally. It relies on two types of cues: binocular and monocular. Binocular cues depend on the combination of images from both eyes and how the eyes work together. Since the eyes are in slightly different positions, each eye captures a slightly different image. This disparity between images, known as binocular disparity, helps the brain interpret depth. When the brain compares these images, it determines the distance to an object.

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Using Eye-tracking to Assess the Relative Importance of Visual and Vestibular Input to Subcortical Motion Processing in the Roll Plane

Using Eye-tracking to Assess the Relative Importance of Visual and Vestibular Input to Subcortical Motion Processing in the Roll Plane

Published on: August 22, 2025

Visual-vestibular stimulation influences spatial and non-spatial cognitive processing.

Joseph M Furman¹, Mark S Redfern, Susan I Fuhrman

¹Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. furmanjm@upmc.edu

Journal of Vestibular Research : Equilibrium & Orientation

|January 11, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Visual-vestibular stimulation, particularly otolithic and visual, significantly impacts auditory processing tasks, especially spatial ones. This cognitive interference is not dependent on age for these tasks.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Auditory Processing
Vestibular System

Background:

Visual-vestibular stimulation influences cognitive functions.
Auditory information processing can be affected by sensory input.
Age-related changes in sensory processing are well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of visual-vestibular stimulation on auditory task performance in young and older adults.
To compare performance on spatial versus non-spatial auditory tasks under various visual-vestibular conditions.
To determine if age influences the interaction between sensory stimulation and cognitive task performance.

Main Methods:

Participants performed spatial (lateralization) and non-spatial (frequency discrimination) auditory tasks.
Tasks were conducted during various visual-vestibular stimulations, including earth-vertical axis rotation (EVAR) and off-vertical axis rotation (OVAR), with and without visual input.
Task cost (reaction time increase) was calculated and statistically analyzed across conditions and age groups.

Main Results:

Task cost varied significantly with visual-vestibular conditions and task type.
Otolithic and visual stimulation resulted in higher task costs than semicircular canal stimulation.
Spatial tasks showed greater interference than non-spatial tasks during visual stimulation, an effect not observed in non-visual conditions.

Conclusions:

Vestibular stimulation, especially otolithic and visual, interferes with cognitive processing.
Spatial auditory tasks are more susceptible to visual-vestibular interference than non-spatial tasks.
This sensory-cognitive interference is not age-dependent for the tested tasks.