Intersegmental eye-head-body interactions during complex whole body movements.
Using state-of-the-art technology, interactions of eye, head and intersegmental body movements were analyzed for the first time during multiple twisting somersaults of high-level gymnasts. With this aim, we used a unique combination of a 16-channel infrared kinemetric system; a three-dimensional video kinemetric system; wireless electromyography; and a specialized wireless sport-video-oculography system, which was able to capture and calculate precise oculomotor data under conditions of rapid multiaxial acceleration. All data were synchronized and integrated in a multimodal software tool for three-dimensional analysis. During specific phases of the recorded movements, a previously unknown eye-head-body interaction was observed. The phenomenon was marked by a prolonged and complete suppression of gaze-stabilizing eye movements, in favor of a tight coupling with the head, spine and joint movements of the gymnasts. Potential reasons for these observations are discussed with regard to earlier findings and integrated within a functional model.
University of Leipzig, Institute of General Kinesiology and Athletics Training, Leipzig, Germany; University Hospital Tübingen, Department of Sports Medicine, Tübingen, Germany.
Christoph
C
von Laßberg
Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Department for Human Perception, Cognition and Action, Tübingen, Germany; AMST Systemtechnik GmbH, Ranshofen, Austria.
Karl A
KA
Beykirch
Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Department for Human Perception, Cognition and Action, Tübingen, Germany.
Betty J
BJ
Mohler
Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Department for Human Perception, Cognition and Action, Tübingen, Germany; Korea University, Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Seoul, South Korea.
Heinrich H
HH
Bülthoff
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D005403:Fixation, Ocular; D019416:Head Movements; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D055815:Young Adult