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Updated: Oct 1, 2025
Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control
Published on: September 11, 2019
Effects of subthreshold electrical stimulation with white noise, pink noise, and chaotic signals on postural control
Momoko Yamagata1, Shima Okada2, Yukiho Tsujioka3
1Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, 3-11 Tsurukabuto, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 657-8501, Japan; Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 5-3-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan.
Background:
The stochastic resonance (SR) phenomenon has been used to improve postural control through the application of imperceptible noise to the somatosensory system. White noise signals have been applied in numerous SR studies on postural control. However, because the SR effect depends on the noise structure, the stimulation effects of signals with different structures, such as pink noise and chaotic signals, on postural control, must be determined to achieve better clinical applications of SR technology.
Research Question:
During quiet standing, how is postural control affected by subthreshold electrical stimulation to the knee joints when signals with different structures (white noise, pink noise, and chaotic signals) are used?
Methods:
Sixteen healthy young adults stood quietly for 40 s with their eyes closed. To evaluate postural sway, we calculated the mean velocity, root mean square (CoPRMS), and range (CoPRange) values for the center of pressure (CoP) in the anteroposterior direction. The standing task was conducted under subthreshold electrical stimulation with white noise, pink noise, and chaotic signals based on the Lorenz system, in addition to the no-stimulation condition. The four stimulation conditions were randomized within each set and repeated seven times.
Results:
Significant effects of stimulation were observed in the CoPRMS and CoPRange values. The CoPRMS value under the pink noise signal was significantly lower than that under the no-stimulation condition. The CoPRange value also tended to decrease under the pink noise signal compared with the no-stimulation condition; however, the differences were not statistically significant. No significant changes were found with the white noise and chaotic signals compared with the no-stimulation condition.
Significance:
We demonstrated that the pink noise signal was more effective in reducing postural sway than the white noise and chaotic signals based on the Lorenz system during quiet standing.
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