Vestibular Stimulation and its Effects, from the Point of View of Theoretical Physics

Abstract

It is shown that the peripheral vestibular system, e.g. the semicircular canals, react according to a second order differential equation, the constants of which having been determined. It appears that the central nervous system interferes in several ways with the ascending signals: (1) it inhibits (especially the sensation); (2) by constructing a copy of the neural replica of the stimulus, it reduces, or even abolishes the influx of the vestibular signals to the cortical area. The necessity of the existence of a pattern center is demonstrated.