The role of neck proprioception in subjective straight ahead and visual localization

摘要

To clarify integration processes for egocentric spatial representation between neck muscle proprioceptive and visual extroceptive information, we examined the time courses (including aftereffects) of the apparent motion, the apparent displacement of a visual target and the horizontal deviation of subjective straight ahead that were evoked by posterior neck muscle vibration. The effect on apparent motion rapidly increased and disappeared as soon as the vibration was eliminated, while that on the others gradually increased and continued for several tens of seconds after the vibration. We discussed these results from the perspective of the temporal characteristics of neck muscle receptors and higher level spatial processing in the brain.