Linear Motion Perception under Additional Somatosensation

When one sensor cannot provide information by sensory deficit or loss, the sensory information can be provided by substituting other sensors for the defected sensor. This sensory substation might be influence on the deteriorated motion perception that consists of multi-sensory information such as visual, vestibular and somatosensory information. In this study, to investigate whether the additional sensation by sensory substitution could be integrated into the motion perception, we examined the effect of substituted postural sway sensation on the directional perception of body movement. Deteriorated motion perception by the reduced plantar sensation was enhanced under sensory substitution condition that provided the body sway information as the plantar vibratory stimulus. These results imply that the additional sensation might be integrated into and improve the motion perception.