Control of the body vertical by vestibular and proprioceptive inputs

The study examines the influence of vestibular and leg proprioceptive cues on the maintenance of the body vertical in human stance. Vestibular body orientation cues were changed by applying bipolar currents to both mastoid bones (cosine-bell wave form of 3.3 s duration, 1 mA current intensity). Proprioceptive input was modified by vibrating the tibialis anterior muscle (at f = 90 Hz, step of 5 s duration and 1 mm amplitude). Furthermore, the vestibular stimulus was paired with the muscle vibration using three different temporal relationships between the stimuli. Body lean responses were analyzed in terms of sway trajectories of the center of foot pressure on the body support surface (horizontal plane). With the anode on the right mastoid, vestibular body lean response was essentially straight towards the right side, and with the anode on left mastoid towards the left side. Vibration of right tibialis anterior muscle induced an almost straight body lean forward and to the right. Upon combined stimulation, responses with complex trajectory resulted, which depended on the stimulus interval. These responses reflected a superposition of the individual vestibular and proprioceptive effects. The results show that the body vertical is under the continuous control of leg proprioceptive and vestibular inputs, which sum linearly. We present a concept according to which these inputs are used for establishing a reference system for the control of the body vertical.