Spatial-frequency-related efficacy of visual stabilisation of posture

The present study investigates the efficacy of visual stabilisation of posture for different spatial frequencies of a visual stimulus. Circular sine wave gratings were used to analyse the correlation between perception of motion in depth and stabilisation of fore-aft sway by the mechanism of detecting changes in target size. Body sway was recorded by a force-measuring platform (series A) and, in addition, by simultaneous tracking of infrared markers fixed to the subject's body (series B). Mean velocity and amplitude (RMS) of body sway were calculated in both sagittal (a-p) and lateral (l-r) planes. Sagittal sway was of least magnitude when viewing contrast gratings with lowest thresholds, whereas higher thresholds resulted in increasing sway parameters. As intended by the design of the stimuli, sagittal sway was correlated closer with the stabilising effect exerted by the different stimuli than was lateral sway. Sway velocity was reduced more efficiently, however, with a lower correlation with the psychophysical transfer function, than was RMS sway. Since sway velocity measured by the platform is suggested to depend to a greater extent on dynamic muscle forces generated at each individual body site the results indicate that visual information can be used to reduce and thereby optimise dynamic muscle action (sway velocity) even though static body sway is either not or less reduced. A comparable economisation of sway velocity but not of RMS sway was also seen at the end of posture investigations, indicative of positive training effects.