Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Equilibrium and Balance01:15

Equilibrium and Balance

4.3K
The inner ear assumes dual functionalities of auditory perception and equilibrium maintenance. The vestibule is the organ responsible for balance. This organ contains mechanoreceptors, specifically hair cells, endowed with stereocilia, which aid in deciphering information regarding the position and motion of our heads. Two intrinsic components, the utricle and saccule, help perceive head position, while the semicircular canals track head movement. Neurological messages initiated in the...
4.3K
Major Somatic Sensory Pathways01:28

Major Somatic Sensory Pathways

848
Sensory impulses related to touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception from various body parts, such as the limbs, trunk, neck, and posterior head, travel to the cerebral cortex through the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway. The pathway’s name derives from the two white-matter tracts that convey the impulses: the spinal cord's posterior column and the brainstem's medial lemniscus. First-order sensory neurons extend their axons into the spinal cord, forming the...
848
The Vestibular System01:29

The Vestibular System

39.3K
The vestibular system is a set of inner ear structures that provide a sense of balance and spatial orientation. This system is comprised of structures within the labyrinth of the inner ear, including the cochlea and two otolith organs—the utricle and saccule. The labyrinth also contains three semicircular canals—superior, posterior, and horizontal—that are oriented on different planes.
39.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Spatial proximity and scene grammar: shaping spatial representations for memory-guided actions in naturalistic environments.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Individual and ensemble perception in naturalistic scenes: Effects of context and presentation time.

PloS one·2026
Same author

Predictive use of environmental regularities requires action relevance.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Allocentric spatial representations dominate when switching between real and virtual worlds.

Journal of vision·2025
Same author

Head engagement during visuomotor tracking is determined by postural challenges and aging.

Journal of neurophysiology·2025
Same author

On the temporal dynamics of head and eye movements for walking on real-world surfaces.

Acta psychologica·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2025

A Vibrotactile Feedback Device for Seated Balance Assessment and Training
09:13

A Vibrotactile Feedback Device for Seated Balance Assessment and Training

Published on: January 20, 2019

6.3K

Temporal modulation of tactile perception during balance control.

Fabian Dominik Wachsmann1, Katja Fiehler2, Dimitris Voudouris2

  • 1Experimental Psychology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10 F, 35394, Giessen, Germany. Fabian.Wachsmann@psychol.uni-giessen.de.

Scientific Reports
|May 19, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Tactile sensitivity in the lower leg enhances during postural control tasks, regardless of when a balance threat occurs. This sensory feedback regulation is crucial for maintaining stability during whole-body movements.

Keywords:
Perception & actionPostural adjustmentsTactile modulationVirtual reality

More Related Videos

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control
08:12

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control

Published on: September 11, 2019

9.4K
Tactile Semiautomatic Passive-Finger Angle Stimulator TSPAS
04:40

Tactile Semiautomatic Passive-Finger Angle Stimulator TSPAS

Published on: July 30, 2020

2.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 23, 2025

A Vibrotactile Feedback Device for Seated Balance Assessment and Training
09:13

A Vibrotactile Feedback Device for Seated Balance Assessment and Training

Published on: January 20, 2019

6.3K
Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control
08:12

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control

Published on: September 11, 2019

9.4K
Tactile Semiautomatic Passive-Finger Angle Stimulator TSPAS
04:40

Tactile Semiautomatic Passive-Finger Angle Stimulator TSPAS

Published on: July 30, 2020

2.8K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biomechanics
  • Human Motor Control

Background:

  • Somatosensory feedback is vital for movement and body control.
  • Tactile sensation is often suppressed during self-initiated movements, particularly in the upper limbs.
  • Limited research exists on tactile processing changes in the lower limbs during complex, whole-body actions like balance control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the temporal tuning of tactile processing in the lower limb during balance control.
  • To examine how tactile sensitivity is modulated under varying feedback processing demands and temporal uncertainty.

Main Methods:

  • Participants performed a balance task in a virtual environment with a moving wall perturbation.
  • Tactile sensitivity was assessed using vibrotactile stimuli on the lower leg at various times relative to the perturbation onset.
  • Temporal uncertainty regarding the perturbation's onset was manipulated (high vs. low).

Main Results:

  • Tactile sensitivity in the lower leg significantly improved around the time of the postural perturbation.
  • This enhancement in tactile sensitivity occurred irrespective of the level of temporal uncertainty about the perturbation onset.
  • The findings suggest a continuous, dynamic regulation of sensory feedback during postural control.

Conclusions:

  • Tactile processing in the lower limb is dynamically modulated during balance control to facilitate task accomplishment.
  • This study expands understanding of sensory integration and feedback regulation in the lower extremities during postural tasks.
  • The results highlight the continuous adjustment of somatosensory feedback for effective whole-body movement and stability.