Physiology of the Peripheral and Central Vestibular Systems

The vestibular system plays a vital role in our daily life through reflexes and complex central nervous system structures. It regulates the perception of head movements and subsequent eye movements and maintains postural stability through center of gravity alignment. Vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), vestibulospinal reflex (VSR), and vestibulocollic reflex (VCR) are provided by efferent signals in response to afferent signals. Perception of motion sensation is possible when peripheral vestibular end organs convert movements into afferent inputs that are then transmitted to central vestibular structures via nerve pathways. It is known that the central vestibular system provides metacognitive skills such as spatial memory and orientation through afferent signal integration.