Linear Accelerations and Otolith-induced Postural Responses
Otolith Simulations | Head-neck Simulations | Recordings of head-movements
Upper Austrian Research | Uni Tübingen | Uni Pavia | DaimlerChrysler

UAR, Medical Informatics (Hagenberg, Austria): Otolith Modeling

Finite-element simulation of Otolith mechanics.

At UAR-Medical Informatics we have developed a fast simulation of the otolith mechanics, which does not require expensive, proprietory FE-programs any more. Static displacements have been calculated for 3000 linear accelerations (+/- 2g, in all spatial directions), and are now used to quickly provide the (static) displacement for arbitrary linear movements.

On the right, you see a 3D representation of the saccule, one of the two otoliths. The arrows indicate the local on-directions of the sensory haircells.

Visualization of Otolith excitation patterns

Using the static displacements and the on-directions of otolith haircells, we can now quickly determine otolith excitation patterns for arbitary movements. These data are used for the Simulations of head-neck mechanics (LOTO-Tuebingen), to obtain realistic innervation signals for the neck muscles.

An interactive visualization program provides an anatomically accurate display of the otoliths, and the excitation patterns on the otolith membrane. The figure on the left shows an upright person, and the simulated neural activity on the saccule, for the stationary case.

Using experimental recordings of 3-dimensional translations and rotations during natural movements (LOTO Pavia), we now analyze the otolith excitation patterns caused by natural movements.

 

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