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Directional postural responses induced by vibrotactile stimulations applied to the torso

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Abstract

It has been shown that torso-based vibrotactile feedback significantly reduces postural sway in balance-compromised adults during quiet standing and in response to perturbations. This study aimed to determine whether vibrotactile stimulations applied to different torso locations induced directional postural responses and whether torso cutaneous information contributes to body representation. Eleven healthy young adults equipped with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) placed on the torso were asked to maintain an upright posture with closed eyes. Six vibrators (tactors) were placed on the torso in contact with the skin over the left and right external oblique, internal oblique, and erector spinae muscles at the L4/L5 level. Each tactor was randomly activated four times per location at a frequency of 250 Hz for a period of 5 s. The IMU results indicated that vibration applied individually over the internal oblique and erector spinae muscles induced a postural shift of about one degree oriented in the direction of the stimulation, while simultaneous activation of all tactors and activation of tactors over external oblique muscles produced insignificant postural effects. The root mean square of the sway signal was significantly higher during vibration than before or after. However, the center of pressure displacement, measured by a force plate, was uninfluenced by any vibration. These results suggest a multi-joint postural response including a torso inclination associated with vibration-induced changes in cutaneous information. The directional aspect of vibration-induced postural shifts suggests that cutaneous information from the stimulated areas contributes to proprioception and upper body spatial representation.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

A/P:

Anterior–posterior

COG:

Center of gravity

COP:

Center of pressure

DFT:

Discrete Fourier transform

HSD:

Honestly significant difference

IMU:

Inertial measurement unit

M/L:

Medial–lateral

PSD:

Power spectral density

RMS:

Root mean square

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Science Foundation’s CAREER program (RAPD-0846471, funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009). The authors acknowledge Jongwha Chang and the Center for Statistical Consultation and Research at University of Michigan for their consultation regarding statistical analysis and Seunghun Baek for assistance with figure presentation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Beom-Chan Lee & Kathleen H. Sienko

  2. Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Bernard J. Martin

  3. Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Kathleen H. Sienko

  4. 2350 Hayward St., 3116 G. G. Brown, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2125, USA

    Kathleen H. Sienko

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  1. Beom-Chan Lee
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  2. Bernard J. Martin
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  3. Kathleen H. Sienko
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Correspondence to Kathleen H. Sienko.

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Lee, BC., Martin, B.J. & Sienko, K.H. Directional postural responses induced by vibrotactile stimulations applied to the torso. Exp Brain Res 222, 471–482 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-012-3233-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-012-3233-2

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