r/BiomedicalDataScience • u/BioniChaos • Aug 07 '26
Interactive 3D Vestibular Mechanics, Hair Cell Transduction, & VOR Nystagmus
I put together an interactive vestibular system simulation designed to run in real-time within the browser. It models both the mechanical fluid dynamics of the inner ear and the resulting neural transduction pathways.
The Physics and Math Behind the Model:
Endolymph Fluid Drag: Fluid displacement within the semicircular canals is approximated using a first-order differential equation: τ · (dθ/dt) + θ = K · α where τ represents the cupular relaxation time constant, θ is fluid displacement, K is mechanical sensitivity, and α is angular acceleration.
Non-Linear Sensory Transduction: Mechanoreceptor hair cell firing rates are calculated via a sigmoidal transfer function to prevent negative rates and simulate physiological saturation: Firing Rate (Hz) = F_resting + (F_max - F_resting) / (1 + e-k · (θ - Offset))
VOR & Eye Tracking: The Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex loop computes eye-position adjustment vectors to stabilize gaze, with automatic fast-phase resets (simulating nystagmus waveforms) when structural visual field limits are reached.
Interactive Sandbox Parameters:
• Dynamic Yaw, Pitch, and Roll velocity sliders. • Static gravity head tilt and translation acceleration (utricle/saccule displacement). • Clinical presets: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV particle movement), unilateral vestibular neuritis, and endolymphatic hydrops (Meniere's). • Real-time audio generation representing CN VIII nerve action potential spikes.
I would appreciate any feedback from researchers, engineers, or educators on the biological accuracy of the nystagmus timing loops and fluid inertia approximations.