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Related Experiment Videos

Influence of auditory precuing on automatic postural responses

J W McChesney1, H Sveistrup, M H Woollacott

  • 1Motor Control Laboratory, University of Oregon, Eugene 97403, USA.

Experimental Brain Research
|March 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Auditory precues, both specific and nonspecific, significantly reduce postural muscle response times. This indicates that prior knowledge of a balance threat enhances anticipatory postural adjustments, improving stability.

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Area of Science:

  • Human motor control
  • Neuroscience
  • Biomechanics

Background:

  • Postural control is crucial for maintaining balance during everyday activities.
  • Anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) are rapid muscle responses that precede self-initiated or external balance perturbations.
  • The role of sensory precues in modulating APAs is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of auditory precues on the onset latencies of postural muscles.
  • To compare the effects of directionally specific and nonspecific auditory precues on muscle response times.

Main Methods:

  • Electromyographic (EMG) activity of the gastrocnemius (G) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles was recorded in subjects standing on a movable platform.
  • Auditory precues (tone) were presented 500 ms before support surface translations (perturbations).

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  • Muscle onset latencies were measured following perturbations with no precue, an invalid precue, and either a nondirectionally specific or directionally specific precue.

    • Main Results:

    • Both nondirectionally specific and directionally specific auditory precues significantly reduced muscle onset latencies for both TA and G muscles.
    • Nondirectionally specific precues reduced TA and G latencies by 6% and 7%, respectively.
    • Directionally specific precues reduced TA and G latencies by 10.4% and 9.8%, respectively.
    • No significant difference was found between the effectiveness of specific and nonspecific precues.

    Conclusions:

    • Prior knowledge of an impending balance perturbation, signaled by an auditory precue, effectively reduces postural muscle onset latencies.
    • Both specific and nonspecific auditory precues enhance anticipatory postural adjustments, leading to faster muscle responses.
    • These findings highlight the importance of sensory information in preparing the motor system for maintaining balance.