Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Vestibulospinal control of posture.

Fay B Horak1, John Buchanan, Robert Creath

  • 1Neurological Sciences Institute of Oregon Health Sciences University, Beaverton 97212, USA. horakf@ohsu.edu

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|August 13, 2002
PubMed
Summary

The vestibular system provides a gravitational reference for balance. Without vestibular function, visual or somatosensory cues can help maintain postural coordination during movement.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

People With Parkinson's Disease Who Freeze Exhibit Altered Quality of Daily-Life Walking Compared to Those Without Freezing.

The European journal of neuroscience·2026
Same author

Frequency-based deep learning to identify subtle postural instability in early, untreated Parkinson's disease.

NPJ Parkinson's disease·2026
Same author

Feasibility and safety of the Mobility Rehab Auditory Feedback system for gait in people with Parkinson's disease: A pilot study.

Gait & posture·2026
Same author

Wrist Vibration Increases Presynaptic Inhibition of the Soleus Muscle During Step Initiation in People With Freezing of Gait and Parkinson's Disease: A Pilot Study.

The European journal of neuroscience·2026
Same author

Stochastic Resonance Stimulation Improves Postural Stability in People with Chronic Ankle Instability During Walking.

Journal of motor behavior·2026
Same author

An updated definition of freezing of gait.

Nature reviews. Neurology·2026

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biomechanics
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • The vestibular system is crucial for maintaining balance and spatial orientation.
  • Understanding its role in dynamic postural control is essential for rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of the vestibular system in postural coordination.
  • To assess the compensatory roles of vision and somatosensation in individuals with vestibular loss.

Main Methods:

  • Comparison of postural control between subjects with complete vestibular loss and controls.
  • Sinusoidal support surface displacements at various frequencies were used.
  • The impact of visual and light touch somatosensory information was evaluated.
Keywords:
Non-programmatic

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Vestibular information acts as a gravitational reference, preventing slow trunk drift during complex tasks.
  • Visual input significantly compensated for the lack of vestibular function.
  • Somatosensory input from light touch also substituted for vestibular deficits.

Conclusions:

  • The vestibular system is vital for dynamic postural stability by providing a gravitational reference.
  • Vision and light touch offer effective sensory substitution strategies for individuals with vestibular impairment.