The vestibular system is the sensory system that provides the brain with information about motion, head position, and spatial orientation. This simulation models how the inner ear detects movement and maintains balance.
About This Simulation
This model simulates the vestibular apparatus including the semicircular canals and otolith organs, showing how they detect angular and linear acceleration to maintain balance and spatial awareness.
Key Concepts
- Semicircular Canals: Three fluid-filled loops oriented in perpendicular planes that detect rotational movement of the head through cupula deflection.
- Otolith Organs: The utricle and saccule contain hair cells with calcium carbonate crystals (otoliths) that sense linear acceleration and gravity.
- Hair Cells: Mechanoreceptors that convert mechanical movement into electrical signals sent to the brain via the vestibular nerve.
- Neural Integration: The brain combines vestibular signals with visual and proprioceptive input for balance and spatial orientation.
Why It Matters
Understanding the vestibular system helps explain motion sickness, vertigo, balance disorders, and informs the design of virtual reality systems and motion simulators.
How to Explore
- Adjust rotation speed to see how the semicircular canals respond to angular acceleration
- Change head tilt to observe otolith organ responses to gravity direction changes
- Modify linear acceleration to simulate forward/backward movement detection
- Adjust hair cell sensitivity to see how signal amplification affects balance perception
Category: Neuroscience & Behavior — Exploring sensory systems and balance mechanisms