Open AccessCausal Inference in Multisensory Heading Estimation
Author(s) -
Ksander N. de Winkel,
Mikhail Katliar,
HH Bülthoff
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0169676
Subject(s) - heading (navigation) , causal inference , inference , causality (physics) , sensory cue , computer science , artificial intelligence , motion (physics) , vestibular system , motion perception , psychology , inertial frame of reference , neuroscience , mathematics , statistics , geography , physics , geodesy , quantum mechanics
A large body of research shows that the Central Nervous System (CNS) integrates multisensory information. However, this strategy should only apply to multisensory signals that have a common cause; independent signals should be segregated. Causal Inference (CI) models account for this notion. Surprisingly, previous findings suggested that visual and inertial cues on heading of self-motion are integrated regardless of discrepancy. We hypothesized that CI does occur, but that characteristics of the motion profiles affect multisensory processing. Participants estimated heading of visual-inertial motion stimuli with several different motion profiles and a range of intersensory discrepancies. The results support the hypothesis that judgments of signal causality are included in the heading estimation process. Moreover, the data suggest a decreasing tolerance for discrepancies and an increasing reliance on visual cues for longer duration motions.