Linear acceleration perception: frequency dependence of the hilltop illusion. 1995

S Glasauer
Max-Planck-Institut für Verhaltensphysiologie, Seewiesen, Germany.

Periodical stimulation of the otoliths during linear horizontal displacement leads not only to motion and displacement perception but also to the "Hilltop Illusion", which is the perception of being transported not on an earth-horizontal path, but over a small hill. This phenomenon is explained by the partial reinterpretation of the linear acceleration to a tilt of the gravitational vertical. The dynamics of the illusion and its role in the perception of spatial orientation were investigated for eight frequencies. The subjects were exposed to sinusoidal linear acceleration and had to dynamically adjust a luminous line display to their subjective vertical. This served as a quantitative indicator of the amount of perceived tilt with respect to gravity. The high frequency part (0.1-0.33 Hz) of the experiment was performed on a conventional linear acceleration device (sled), the low frequency part (0.0083-0.05 Hz) on the sled centrifuge (a rotating sled). The amplitude ratio of the settings of the subjective vertical was found to be similar to that of a lowpass with a 15 s time constant. However, the phase shifts never exceeded a 40 lag, which together with other experimental results led to the conclusion that a non-linear, possibly predictive type of information processing must be at work.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007088 Illusions The misinterpretation of a real external, sensory experience. Autokinetic Effect,Autokinetic Illusions,Effect, Autokinetic,Illusions, Auditory,Illusions, Kinesthetic,Illusions, Tactile,Illusions, Visual,Auditory Illusion,Auditory Illusions,Autokinetic Effects,Autokinetic Illusion,Effects, Autokinetic,Illusion,Illusion, Auditory,Illusion, Autokinetic,Illusion, Kinesthetic,Illusion, Tactile,Illusion, Visual,Illusions, Autokinetic,Kinesthetic Illusion,Kinesthetic Illusions,Tactile Illusion,Tactile Illusions,Visual Illusion,Visual Illusions
D007699 Kinesthesis Sense of movement of a part of the body, such as movement of fingers, elbows, knees, limbs, or weights. Kinesthesia,Kinesthetic Sense,Movement Sensation,Kinestheses,Kinesthesias,Kinesthetic Senses,Movement Sensations
D009949 Orientation Awareness of oneself in relation to time, place and person. Cognitive Orientation,Mental Orientation,Psychological Orientation,Cognitive Orientations,Mental Orientations,Orientation, Cognitive,Orientation, Mental,Orientation, Psychological,Orientations,Orientations, Cognitive,Orientations, Mental,Orientations, Psychological,Psychological Orientations
D012016 Reference Values The range or frequency distribution of a measurement in a population (of organisms, organs or things) that has not been selected for the presence of disease or abnormality. Normal Range,Normal Values,Reference Ranges,Normal Ranges,Normal Value,Range, Normal,Range, Reference,Ranges, Normal,Ranges, Reference,Reference Range,Reference Value,Value, Normal,Value, Reference,Values, Normal,Values, Reference
D006112 Gravitation Acceleration produced by the mutual attraction of two masses, and of magnitude inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the two centers of mass. It is also the force imparted by the earth, moon, or a planet to an object near its surface. (From NASA Thesaurus, 1988) G Force,Gravistimulation,Gravity,Force, G,G Forces,Gravities
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000054 Acceleration An increase in the rate of speed. Accelerations
D012399 Rotation Motion of an object in which either one or more points on a line are fixed. It is also the motion of a particle about a fixed point. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Clinorotation,Clinorotations,Rotations
D014722 Vestibule, Labyrinth An oval, bony chamber of the inner ear, part of the bony labyrinth. It is continuous with bony COCHLEA anteriorly, and SEMICIRCULAR CANALS posteriorly. The vestibule contains two communicating sacs (utricle and saccule) of the balancing apparatus. The oval window on its lateral wall is occupied by the base of the STAPES of the MIDDLE EAR. Vestibular Apparatus,Ear Vestibule,Vestibular Labyrinth,Vestibule of Ear,Vestibulum Auris,Apparatus, Vestibular,Ear Vestibules,Labyrinth Vestibule,Labyrinth Vestibules,Labyrinth, Vestibular,Labyrinths, Vestibular,Vestibular Labyrinths,Vestibule, Ear,Vestibules, Ear,Vestibules, Labyrinth
D014724 Vestibular Function Tests A number of tests used to determine if the brain or balance portion of the inner ear are causing dizziness. Function Test, Vestibular,Function Tests, Vestibular,Test, Vestibular Function,Tests, Vestibular Function,Vestibular Function Test

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