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Applying Incongruent Visual-Tactile Stimuli during Object Transfer with Vibro-Tactile Feedback
Published on: May 23, 2019
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Visual conflict and cognitive load modify postural responses to vibrotactile noise
Emily A Keshner1, Jill C Slaboda, Lois Lanaria Day
1Department of Physical Therapy, Temple University, 3307 N, Broad St,, 19140 Philadelphia, PA, USA. ekeshner@temple.edu.
Journal of Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation
|January 15, 2014
Summary
Adding sub-threshold vibration to the feet can improve postural stability by enhancing sensory detection. This vibrotactile stimulation may help reduce fall risk, even with competing sensory information.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Engineering
Background:
- Multitasking increases fall risk due to impaired detection of postural instability signals.
- Stochastic resonance, using added noise, can enhance weak signal detection in biological systems.
- Investigating vibrotactile noise efficacy in complex sensory environments is crucial for rehabilitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if sub-threshold vibrotactile noise improves postural stability during single and dual-task conditions.
- To assess the effect of vibrotactile noise on postural sway under visual and cognitive load.
- To evaluate the potential of vibrotactile stimulation as a fall prevention strategy.
Main Methods:
- 21 healthy adults stood with eyes closed or viewed rotating visual scenes, with/without mental calculation.
- Sub-threshold vibration was applied to the soles of the feet.
- Postural sway was quantified using center of pressure (COP) and center of mass (COM) metrics.
Main Results:
- Vibrotactile noise reduced postural sway during quiet stance with eyes closed.
- Postural sway increased with visual and cognitive tasks.
- The effect of vibrotactile noise was modulated by combined visual and cognitive demands, with increased complexity noted.
Conclusions:
- Vibrotactile stimulation can modulate the impact of destabilizing sensory signals.
- Short-term adaptation to vibrotactile input was observed.
- This non-invasive method shows potential for reducing sway and fall risk by enhancing response variability.
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