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Sensory re-weighting in human postural control during moving-scene perturbations

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Abstract

The aim of the current study was to further investigate a recently proposed “sensory re-weighting” hypothesis, by evoking anterior–posterior (AP) body sway using visual stimuli during sway-referencing of the support surface. Twelve healthy adults participated in this study. Subjects stood on the platform while looking at a visual scene that encompassed the full horizontal field of view. A sequence of scene movements was presented to the subjects consisting of multiple visual push/pull perturbations; in between the first two push/pull sequences, the scene either moved randomly or was stationary. The peak-squared velocity of AP center-of-pressure (COP) was computed within a 6 s window following each push and pull. The peak-squared velocity was lowest for the push/pull sequence immediately following the random moving scene. These results are consistent with the sensory re-weighting hypothesis, wherein the sensory integration process reduced the contribution of visual sensory input during the random moving scene interval. We also found evidence of habituation to moving scene perturbations with repeated exposure.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by NIH grants DC04435, DC05205, and K25-AG01049.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Arash Mahboobin & Patrick J. Loughlin

  2. Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Patrick J. Loughlin, Mark S. Redfern & Patrick J. Sparto

  3. Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Mark S. Redfern & Patrick J. Sparto

  4. Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Patrick J. Sparto

Authors
  1. Arash Mahboobin
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  2. Patrick J. Loughlin
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  3. Mark S. Redfern
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  4. Patrick J. Sparto
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Correspondence to Patrick J. Loughlin.

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Mahboobin, A., Loughlin, P.J., Redfern, M.S. et al. Sensory re-weighting in human postural control during moving-scene perturbations. Exp Brain Res 167, 260–267 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-005-0053-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-005-0053-7

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