Sensory-Neural Systems: Spatial Orientation from End Organs to Behavior and Adaptation

Larry Young spins Charles Oman during a test under weightless conditions.

Larry Young prepares to spin Charles Oman during a 1979 vestibulo-ocular reflex study aboard the "vomit comet" reduced gravity aircraft. (Public domain image, source NASA.)

Instructor(s)

MIT Course Number

16.430J / HST.514J

As Taught In

Spring 2012

Level

Graduate

Cite This Course

Course Description

Course Description

This course introduces sensory systems and multi-sensory fusion using the vestibular and spatial orientation systems as a model. Topics range from end organ dynamics to neural responses, to sensory integration, to behavior, and adaptation, with particular application to balance, posture and locomotion under normal gravity and space conditions. Depending upon the background and interests of the students, advanced term project topics might include motion sickness, astronaut adaptation, artificial gravity, lunar surface locomotion, vestibulo-cardiovascular responses, vestibular neural prostheses, or other topics of interest.

Related Content

Charles Oman, Laurence Young, Daniel M. Merfeld, and Kathleen Cullen. 16.430J Sensory-Neural Systems: Spatial Orientation from End Organs to Behavior and Adaptation. Spring 2012. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT OpenCourseWare, https://ocw.mit.edu. License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA.


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