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Summary: P. Cisek, T. Drew & J.F. Kalaska (Eds.)
Progress in Brain Research, Vol. 165
ISSN 0079-6123
Copyright r 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
CHAPTER 10
Coordinate transformations and sensory integration
in the detection of spatial orientation and
self-motion: from models to experiments
Andrea M. Green1,Ã and Dora E. Angelaki2
1
De´partement de Physiologie, Universite´ de Montre´al, 2960 Chemin de la Tour, Rm 2140, Montreal, QC, H3T 1J4, USA
2
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Box 8108, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid
Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
Abstract: An accurate internal representation of our current motion and orientation in space is critical to
navigate in the world and execute appropriate action. The force of gravity provides an allocentric frame of
reference that defines one's motion relative to inertial (i.e., world-centered) space. However, movement in
this environment also introduces particular motion detection problems as our internal linear accelerom-
eters, the otolith organs, respond identically to either translational motion or changes in head orientation
relative to gravity. According to physical principles, there exists an ideal solution to the problem of
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