Optimizing self-motion perception: a control theory perspective on vestibular–visual integration and adaptive mechanisms

Abstract

Self-motion perception, the ability to sense and interpret one’s own movement through space, plays a critical role in navigation, balance, and spatial orientation. This review examines how control theory offers a structured framework to analyze and optimize this perceptual process, focusing on the interactions between the vestibular and visual systems. By applying control theory concepts such as feedback loops, adaptive mechanisms, and sensory integration, we gain a deeper understanding of how the brain resolves conflicts between sensory inputs and recalibrates them to maintain stability. Recent findings highlight cortical processing areas that optimize sensory integration and recalibration, allowing for robust and accurate motion perception. This review synthesizes contemporary research from neuroscience, psychology, and engineering to present a cohesive perspective on enhancing self-motion perception, with implications for both theoretical understanding and practical applications in fields such as virtual reality and robotics.