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Postural changes during eye-head movements.

J Fukushima1, T Asaka, K Fukushima

  • 1Department of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. jf002@pop.cme.hokudai.ae.jp

Progress in Brain Research
|August 23, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Postural sway is influenced by eye-head movements. Center of pressure (COP) changes often precede downward head movements, indicating anticipatory postural adjustments during visual-motor tasks.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Neuroscience
  • Human Movement Science

Background:

  • Postural control is crucial for stability.
  • The interplay between visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems influences posture.
  • Eye-head coordination plays a significant role in maintaining balance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of combined eye and head movements on postural sway.
  • To determine the temporal relationship between eye-head movements and changes in center of pressure (COP).
  • To explore the anticipatory nature of postural adjustments during visual-motor tasks.

Main Methods:

  • Young subjects stood on a force plate while wearing a helmet with a laser.
  • Visual targets were presented at various angular displacements.
  • Subjects were instructed to align a laser spot with targets using eye-head movements.
  • Center of pressure (COP) and electromyography (EMG) were recorded.

Main Results:

  • Anterior-posterior COP changes were most pronounced during downward movements, with short latencies.
  • COP adjustments frequently preceded the onset of downward head movements.
  • EMG activity in biceps femoris and gastrocnemius correlated with these anticipatory COP changes.
  • Eye-only movements did not consistently alter ground reaction forces.

Conclusions:

  • Eye-head movements significantly influence postural sway.
  • Anticipatory postural adjustments, indicated by COP changes, precede head movements during visual-motor tasks.
  • These findings highlight the predictive role of the sensorimotor system in maintaining balance during dynamic visual-motor tasks.