Vestibular system


Theoretical vestibular researches were carried out since 1967 . First concentrated on the hydrodynamics of the semicircular system of the vestibular apparatus they encompassed later the problem of orientation in space using information delivered from both otolith and semicircular canal systems. Recently the transduction mechanisms related to the hair cells excitation were critically reviewed and the new one was proposed, which deals with the electro-chemical nature of the endolymph molecules along with their diffusion through the porous structures of cupulae and maculae. The most significant results are:

1. it was demonstrated for the first time existence of the gravity independent component of the semicircular canal pressure evoked by the endolymph volume extention during caloric stimulation of the vestibular apparatus.( V.Gusev, V.Kisljakov, M.Levashov, I.Orlov, R.Polonnikov, Investigation on the receptors of the vestibular apparatus as angular acceleration sensors. In: Technical and Biological Problems of control. A cybernetic view. Instrument society of America. Pitsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1970.)


2. the role of both semicircular canal and otolith systems was explained from the point of view of stability of the orientation system in space. In addition it was emphasized that information delivered from the semicircular system should be gained essentially more as compared with otolith system to ensure the known precision in stabilization tasks for orientation in space. ( V.Gusev, L.Semenov, A model for optimal processing of multisensory information in the system for maintaining body orientation in the human, Biol. Cybern., 1992, 66, p. 407-411)


3. the new transduction mechanism for hair cells in the vestibular system was proposed, which explained the spatial structure of stereocilia bunches and the non linear firing curve of cells excitation. ( V.Gusev ,A Theoretical approach to understanding of the vestibular perception organization in microgravity condition., J.of Gravitational Physiology, 1994, Vol.1, No.1, p.144-145 )


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