Perceptual adaptation during a balancing task in the seated posture and its theoretical model

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Human Physiology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Human balance relies on complex control and perception mechanisms.
• Subjective upright posture, the perceived vertical orientation, is crucial for maintaining balance.
• Experimental data shows shifts in subjective upright posture after balancing tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a theoretical model explaining the adaptive changes in human balance perception.
• To simulate and validate the proposed model against experimental findings on subjective upright posture shifts.

Main Methods:

• Development of a theoretical model incorporating an adaptation rule for subjective upright posture.
• Definition of an adaptation rule where subjective upright posture converges to the average posture during a balancing task.
• Implementation of center of pressure feedback for balance control within a two-link model.

Main Results:

• Computer simulations successfully reproduced the adaptive changes observed in subjective upright posture.
• The model demonstrated that the subjective upright posture shifts towards the posture required for maintaining balance.
• A two-link model with a base link effectively simulated the experimental results.

Conclusions:

• The proposed hypothesis, that perceived uprightness adapts to the required balancing posture, offers a plausible explanation for human balance control and perception.
• The study provides a theoretical framework and computational evidence for the adaptive nature of human balance perception.
• Further research can explore the neural underpinnings of this adaptive mechanism in human balance.