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Postural strategy for two potential targets considering motor costs for postural stabilization and probabilistic
Ryo Watanabe1,2,3, Takahiro Higuchi1
1Department of Health Promotion Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan.
Journal of Neurophysiology
|March 10, 2025
Summary
Individuals prioritize postural stability by planning movements to account for higher motor costs, even when less probable targets pose greater challenges. This strategy aids in maintaining balance during uncertain actions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomechanics
- Motor Control
Background:
- Motor planning under uncertainty involves integrating probabilistic information about potential goals.
- Previous research in arm reaching demonstrated averaging of trajectories and probabilistic biasing.
- A "go-before-you-know" paradigm was adapted for stepping tasks to investigate anticipatory postural adjustments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if postural strategies prioritize motor costs for stability even with low target probabilities.
- To examine the influence of probability and motor cost on pre-stepping posture planning.
- To determine if the central nervous system considers motor costs for postural stabilization in multi-target scenarios.
Main Methods:
- Fourteen participants performed a target-stepping task with known probabilities for two potential targets.
- Participants initiated stepping movements before the target was revealed.
- Prestep mediolateral posture and kinematic data were analyzed, alongside computational simulations.
Main Results:
- Participants prepared their posture to favor the higher motor cost target, irrespective of its lower probability.
- Probability information had a smaller, yet significant, effect on prestep posture.
- Simulations confirmed that prioritizing motor costs enhances mechanical stability and allows more time for corrective actions.
Conclusions:
- The central nervous system prioritizes motor costs for postural stabilization when planning movements under uncertainty.
- This strategy is employed even when the higher-cost target is less probable.
- Findings suggest a crucial role of motor cost consideration in maintaining upright posture during complex motor tasks.
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