Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Static and dynamic visual cues in feed-forward postural control

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Experimental Brain Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) play an important role in the performance of many activities requiring the maintenance of vertical posture. However, little is known about how variation in the available visual information affects generation of APAs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of different visual cues on APAs. Ten healthy young subjects were exposed to external perturbations induced at the shoulder level in standing while the level of visual information about the forthcoming perturbation was varied. The external perturbations were provided by an aluminum pendulum attached to the ceiling. The visual conditions were (1) dynamic cues (full vision and high-frequency strobe light), (2) static cues (low-frequency strobe light) and (3) no cues (eyes open in dark room). Electrical activity of the trunk and leg muscles and center of pressure displacements were recorded and quantified within the time intervals typical for APAs. The results showed that significantly larger APAs were generated in conditions with dynamic visual cues as compared to the conditions with static cues (p < 0.05). Finally, no APAs were observed in the condition where there was complete absence of any visual cues. Principal component analysis further revealed different muscle coupling patterns in the full vision and high-frequency strobe light conditions. These findings suggest the importance of using appropriate visual cues in the generation of APAs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexandrov AV, Frolov AA, Horak FB, Carlson-Kuhta P, Park S (2005) Feedback equilibrium control during human standing. Biol Cybern 93:309–322

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aruin AS, Latash ML (1995) The role of motor action in anticipatory postural adjustments studied with self-induced and externally triggered perturbations. Exp Brain Res 106:291–300

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aruin AS, Shiratori T, Latash ML (2001) The role of action in postural preparation for loading and unloading in standing subjects. Exp Brain Res 138:458–466

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bardy BG, Warren WH Jr, Kay BA (1999) The role of central and peripheral vision in postural control during walking. Percept Psychophys 61:1356–1368

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Basmajian JV (1980) Electromyography—dynamic gross anatomy: a review. Am J Anat 159:245–260

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Benvenuti F, Stanhope SJ, Thomas SL, Panzer VP, Hallett M (1997) Flexibility of anticipatory postural adjustments revealed by self-paced and reaction-time arm movements. Brain Res 761:59–70

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bouisset S, Zattara M (1987) Biomechanical study of the programming of anticipatory postural adjustments associated with voluntary movement. J Biomechanics 20:735–742

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bull NJ, Hunter M, Finlay DC (2003) Cue gradient and cue density interact in the detection and recognition of objects defined by motion, contrast, or texture. Perception 32:29–39

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cavanagh PR, Komi PV (1979) Electromechanical delay in human skeletal muscle under concentric and eccentric contractions. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 42:159–163

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cian C, Esquivie D, Barraud PA, Raphel C, Ohlmann T (1997) Strobe frequency in the rod and frame effect. Percept Mot Skills 85:43–50

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clement G, Gurfinkel VS, Lestienne F, Lipshits MI, Popov KE (1985) Changes of posture during transient perturbations in microgravity. Aviat Space Environ Med 56:666–671

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Wolf S, Slijper H, Latash ML (1998) Anticipatory postural adjustments during self-paced and reaction-time movements. Exp Brain Res 121:7–19

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greenwald HS, Knill DC, Saunders JA (2005) Integrating visual cues for motor control: a matter of time. Vision Res 45:1975–1989

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hadders-Algra M (2005) Development of postural control during the first 18 months of life. Neural Plast 12:99–108 (discussion 263–172)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Howatson G, Glaister M, Brouner J, van Someren KA (2009) The reliability of electromechanical delay and torque during isometric and concentric isokinetic contractions. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 19:975–979

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klous M, Mikulic P, Latash ML (2011) Two aspects of feedforward postural control: anticipatory postural adjustments and anticipatory synergy adjustments. J Neurophysiol 105:2275–2288

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krishnan V, Aruin AS (2011) Postural control in response to a perturbation: role of vision and additional support. Exp Brain Res 212:385–397

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krishnan V, Latash ML, Aruin AS (2012) Early and late components of feed-forward postural adjustments to predictable perturbations. Clin Neurophysiol 123:1016–1026

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lacquaniti F, Maioli C (1989) The role of preparation in tuning anticipatory and reflex responses during catching. J Neurosci 9:134–148

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lord SR, Menz HB (2000) Visual contributions to postural stability in older adults. Gerontology 46:306–310

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lord SR, Clark RD, Webster IW (1991) Postural stability and associated physiological factors in a population of aged persons. J Gerontol 46:M69–M76

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Magnusson M, Enbom H, Johansson R, Pyykko I (1990) Significance of pressor input from the human feet in anterior-posterior postural control. The effect of hypothermia on vibration-induced body-sway. Acta Otolaryngol 110:182–188

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Massion J (1992) Movement, posture and equilibrium: interaction and coordination. Prog Neurobiol 38:35–56

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohapatra S, Krishnan V, Aruin AS (2011) The effect of decreased visual acuity on control of posture. Clin Neurophysiol 123:173–182

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mohapatra S, Krishnan V, Aruin AS (2012) Postural control in response to an external perturbation: effect of altered proprioceptive information. Exp Brain Res 217:197–208

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Owsley C, Sloane ME (1987) Contrast sensitivity, acuity, and the perception of ‘real-world’ targets. Br J Ophthalmol 71:791–796

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Park S, Horak FB, Kuo AD (2004) Postural feedback responses scale with biomechanical constraints in human standing. Exp Brain Res 154:417–427

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Paulus WM, Straube A, Brandt T (1984) Visual stabilization of posture. Physiological stimulus characteristics and clinical aspects. Brain 107(Pt 4):1143–1163

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Santos MJ, Kanekar N, Aruin AS (2010a) The role of anticipatory postural adjustments in compensatory control of posture: 1. Electromyographic analysis. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 20:388–397

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Santos MJ, Kanekar N, Aruin AS (2010b) The role of anticipatory postural adjustments in compensatory control of posture: 2. Biomechanical analysis. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 20:398–405

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schmid M, Nardone A, De Nunzio AM, Schieppati M (2007) Equilibrium during static and dynamic tasks in blind subjects: no evidence of cross-modal plasticity. Brain 130:2097–2107

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schmitz C, Martin N, Assaiante C (1999) Development of anticipatory postural adjustments in a bimanual load-lifting task in children. Exp Brain Res 126:200–204

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strang AJ, Berg WP (2007) Fatigue-induced adaptive changes of anticipatory postural adjustments. Exp Brain Res 178:49–61

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sun H, Frost BJ (1998) Computation of different optical variables of looming objects in pigeon nucleus rotundus neurons. Nat Neurosci 1:296–303

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun HJ, Campos JL, Young M, Chan GS, Ellard CG (2004) The contributions of static visual cues, nonvisual cues, and optic flow in distance estimation. Perception 33:49–65

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Toussaint HM, Michies YM, Faber MN, Commissaris DA, van Dieen JH (1998) Scaling anticipatory postural adjustments dependent on confidence of load estimation in a bi-manual whole-body lifting task. Exp Brain Res 120:85–94

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wade MG, Jones G (1997) The role of vision and spatial orientation in the maintenance of posture. Phys Ther 77:619–628

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei K, Stevenson IH, Kording KP (2010) The uncertainty associated with visual flow fields and their influence on postural sway: Weber’s law suffices to explain the nonlinearity of vection. J Vis 10:4

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Winter D (2000) Human balance and posture control during standing and walking. Gait & Posture 3:193–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winter DA, Prince F, Frank JS, Powell C, Zabjek KF (1996) Unified theory regarding A/P and M/L balance in quiet stance. J Neurophysiol 75:2334–2343

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yiou E, Mezaour M, Le Bozec S (2009) Anticipatory postural adjustments and focal performance during bilateral forward-reach task under different stance conditions. Mot Control 13:142–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Zago M, Bosco G, Maffei V, Iosa M, Ivanenko YP, Lacquaniti F (2004) Internal models of target motion: expected dynamics overrides measured kinematics in timing manual interceptions. J Neurophysiol 91:1620–1634

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Bing Chen and Nilovana Panwalkar for help during data collection. This study was supported in part by NIH grant HD-064838.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy (MC 898), University of Illinois at Chicago, 1919 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

    Sambit Mohapatra & Alexander S. Aruin

Authors
  1. Sambit Mohapatra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alexander S. Aruin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alexander S. Aruin.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mohapatra, S., Aruin, A.S. Static and dynamic visual cues in feed-forward postural control. Exp Brain Res 224, 25–34 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-012-3286-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-012-3286-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation