S. Nishiike et al., Information processing of visually-induced apparent self motion in the cortex of humans: Analysis with magnetoencephalography, ACT OTO-LAR, 2001, pp. 113-115
The cortical site which processes information on whole-body linear displace
ment is unknown. In this study, neuromagnetic responses to a visually-induc
ed linear vection were recorded in 5 healthy, right-handed, adult subjects
using a 122-channel whole cortex neuromagnetometer. We presented expanding
rectangles on the screen which came into view one after another and acceler
ated in expanding speed at random cycle, giving the subjects the sensation
of linear self motion (linear vection) through an illusory tunnel with occa
sional acceleration. Clear responses of magnetic fields related to the acce
lerative event were obtained in both hemispheres around the parietal and te
mporal regions. The dipole sources of the component were estimated in the c
ortex around the superior temporal sulcus, insula and medial superior tempo
ral area. Some parts of these regions may have been comprised in the vestib
ular cortex, suggesting that it processes the sensation of linear self moti
on and plays an important role in space perception.