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 Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control
08:12

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control

Published on: September 11, 2019

Postural prioritization defines the interaction between a reaction time task and postural perturbations.

Martijn L T M Müller1, Mark S Redfern, J Richard Jennings

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA. mtmuller@umich.edu

Experimental Brain Research
|August 11, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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

A modeling approach to understanding poor stability in people with vestibular hypofunction.

Journal of biomechanics·2026
Same author

Shoe-rung coefficient of friction as a predictor of slips in ladder climbing.

Applied ergonomics·2026
Same author

Sustainable Surgery: A Hand Surgeon's Guide to Ergonomics.

The Journal of hand surgery·2026
Same author

Investigating Physiology-Behavior Associations for Youth During Parent-Child Conflict Discussions.

Developmental psychobiology·2026
Same author

Interpreting common standing postural sway measures.

Gait & posture·2025
Same author

Neurovascular Compression in People With Resistant Hypertension or Normotension.

Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)·2025

This study found that postural control is prioritized over cognitive tasks, even when stability is not threatened. Anticipating a postural task slows reaction time, but once it begins, reactions speed up.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biomechanics
  • Human Factors

Background:

  • Concurrent postural and cognitive tasks can cause interference, impacting cognitive functions like information processing speed.
  • The concept of

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether postural control takes precedence over cognitive control during dual-task scenarios.
  • To determine if observed dual-task effects are a result of postural prioritization.

Main Methods:

  • Twelve young adults performed a choice reaction time (RT) task alongside platform perturbations.
  • Destabilizing and non-destabilizing perturbations were randomly presented, with manipulations in stimulus order and timing relative to RT stimuli.
  • Center of pressure (COP) and RT data were collected and compared to single-task baselines.

More Related Videos

A Modified Lean and Release Technique to Emphasize Response Inhibition and Action Selection in Reactive Balance
07:19

A Modified Lean and Release Technique to Emphasize Response Inhibition and Action Selection in Reactive Balance

Published on: March 19, 2020

Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication
14:52

Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication

Published on: December 11, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control
08:12

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control

Published on: September 11, 2019

A Modified Lean and Release Technique to Emphasize Response Inhibition and Action Selection in Reactive Balance
07:19

A Modified Lean and Release Technique to Emphasize Response Inhibition and Action Selection in Reactive Balance

Published on: March 19, 2020

Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication
14:52

Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication

Published on: December 11, 2013

Main Results:

  • Postural task processes were prioritized regardless of the level of postural stability threat.
  • Anticipation of a postural stimulus impaired RT, but RTs were faster once a perturbation began.
  • Concurrent RT tasks did not affect postural reactions, suggesting RT cues initiate biomechanical adaptations.

Conclusions:

  • Evidence supports the hypothesis of postural prioritization, where postural control is favored over cognitive processing.
  • The findings highlight the interplay between sensory cues, cognitive load, and motor control in dual-task situations.
  • Understanding postural prioritization is crucial for designing effective interventions and environments for tasks involving both balance and cognition.