Back to Search
Start Over
Gravity estimation and verticality perception
- Publication Year :
- 2018
- Publisher :
- Elsevier, 2018.
-
Abstract
- Gravity is a defining force that governs the evolution of mechanical forms, shapes and anchors our perception of the environment, and imposes fundamental constraints on our interactions with the world. Within the animal kingdom, humans are relatively unique in having evolved a vertical, bipedal posture. Although a vertical posture confers numerous benefits, it also renders us less stable than quadrupeds, increasing susceptibility to falls. The ability to accurately and precisely estimate our orientation relative to gravity is therefore of utmost importance. Here we review sensory information and computational processes underlying gravity estimation and verticality perception. Central to gravity estimation and verticality perception is multisensory cue combination, which serves to improve the precision of perception and resolve ambiguities in sensory representations by combining information from across the visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems. We additionally review experimental paradigms for evaluating verticality perception, and discuss how particular disorders affect the perception of upright. Together, the work reviewed here highlights the critical role of multisensory cue combination in gravity estimation, verticality perception, and creating stable gravity-centered representations of our environment.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
Estimation
Vestibular system
Gravity (chemistry)
Computer science
Orientation (computer vision)
media_common.quotation_subject
Posture
Work (physics)
Cue integration
Sensory system
Proprioception
Article
03 medical and health sciences
030104 developmental biology
0302 clinical medicine
Orientation
Perception
Humans
Cues
Gravity Sensing
030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Gravitation
Cognitive psychology
media_common
Subjects
Details
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....91c2280b3c1f7c7f36a753ccab6ea324