In Certain Amusement Park Rides, Individuals Are Seated in Front

question 32

Essay

In certain amusement park rides, individuals are seated in front of a screen and their seats rock, move up and down, and tilt to simulate the types of stimuli they would be experiencing while on a boat, spaceship, or other vehicle. Using your knowledge of the vestibular system, construct an argument that if such a simulation were perfectly designed, a viewer could be completely fooled into believing they were actually moving through space. Be sure to justify your answer with specific reference to the structural features of the utricle, saccule, and semicircular canals.