Multisensory integration in self-motion

In a series of studies we used virtual reality to assess the relative contributions of visual and proprioceptive/efferent information in estimating distance traveled. Subjects pedaled a stationary bike down a virtual hallway, while simultaneously receiving optic flow information via a head mounted display. Subjects were required to either make ratio estimations or discrimination judgments comparing two traveled path lengths, or were required to reproduce a distance previously traveled. The relation between visual and nonvisual cues was made to be either congruent or incongruent. The results demonstrated the dynamic nature of relative cue weighting in generating a statistically optimal response