A general framework for neurobiological modeling: an application to the vestibular system.
The otolith organs in the vestibular system are excellent detectors of linear accelerations. However, any measurement of linear acceleration is ambiguous between a tilt in a gravitational field and an inertial acceleration. Angelaki et al. have put forward a general hypothesis about how inertial accelerations can be computed based on vestibular signals (J. Neurosci. 19 (1999) 316). We have constructed a realistic, detailed model of the relevant systems to test this hypothesis. The model produces useful predictions about what kinds of neurons should be found in the vestibular nucleus if such a computation is actually performed in the vestibular system. The model is constructed using general principles of neurobiological simulation (J. Neurophys. 84 (2000) 2113).
Eliasmith
Chris
C
Department of Philosophy, Department of Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ont., Canada.
Westover
M B
MB
Anderson
C H
CH
D000054:Acceleration; D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006112:Gravitation; D000882:Haplorhini; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009446:Neurobiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000502:physiology*; D014725:Vestibular Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D014726:Vestibular Nuclei / Q000502:physiology; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*