The 'deceleration response' to transient perturbation of upright stance.
Characterizing the postural perturbation due to a transient support-surface displacement in terms of acceleration and deceleration events leads to a new framework for understanding the control of the stabilizing response. This study documents the existence of a 'deceleration response', which has not been reported previously, and explores the control of this response by varying the predictability of the timing and pattern of support-surface deceleration. Control features related to the capacity of the subject to predict deceleration were exposed, in part, by including novel 'tri-phasic' perturbations, in which the normal deceleration phase was replaced by a re-acceleration. In all trials, subjects showed a marked response to the onset of deceleration. The capacity of predict the timing and pattern of deceleration had a significant influence on the 'deceleration response', as well as the 'tonic' muscle activation that preceded the onset of deceleration.
McIlroy
W E
WE
Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, University of Toronto, Ont., Canada.
Maki
B E
BE
D000054:Acceleration; D000328:Adult; D003654:Deceleration; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors