Research article summary (published 27 Jan 2007):

Temporal facilitation of gaze in the presence of postural reactions triggered by sudden surface perturbations.

Full Abstract

Saccadic reaction times can be shortened by an additional sensory modality (e.g. auditory, tactile) presented in temporal proximity to the triggering cue. Whereas somatosensory cues given by sudden perturbations of the support surface can trigger appropriate postural adjustments to maintain upright stance, it is not known how gaze executions are affected by the dual task of maintaining upright balance while redirecting gaze. It was hypothesized that the onset latency of gaze movements toward visual targets will be shortened by sudden surface perturbations following visual target shifts to prompt a stable visual anchor for postural stabilization. Eight subjects stood on a movable platform with gaze fixated on a central target 2 m directly in front, and were instructed to shift their gaze to lateral targets located along a 63 degrees arc to the right and left. The trials began with the central target lit followed randomly by either the right, left or center target. Fifty or 250 ms following this target shift, balance was perturbed by a sudden yaw movement of the support surface (15.5 degrees over 210 ms at 130 degrees /s), with no stepping or large arm reactions observed. The latency of the gaze shifts was significantly shortened (by approximately 72 ms) when executed simultaneously with a surface perturbation. A decrease in excitation latency was also observed in the cervical paraspinals and sternocleidomastoid muscles. Postural responses in the ankle and knee muscles were not affected by gaze shifts. Pelvic horizontal angular motion closely followed surface motion whereas head motion was influenced by gaze shifts. During the combined gaze shift and surface motion conditions, thorax movement excursion was larger and not correlated with either the surface motion or visual target shift. In conclusion, postural adjustments in response to sudden surface yaws facilitate voluntary gaze shift execution and this enhancement may result from the sensory fusion of somatosensory and visual information.

Author information

Author/s: Paquette, C (C); Fung, J (J);

Affiliation: School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, 3654 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3G 1Y5. caroline.paquette(-atsign-)mail.mcgill.ca

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Neuroscience (Neuroscience), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Mar; vol 145 (issue 2) : pp 505-19

Dates: Created 2007/03/12; Completed 2007/06/26; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 17258863, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Afferent Pathways - physiology Central Nervous System - physiology Fixation, Ocular - physiology Head Movements - physiology Humans Motion Perception - physiology Neck Muscles - innervation; physiology Orientation - physiology

Photic Stimulation Physical Stimulation Postural Balance - physiology Proprioception - physiology Reaction Time - physiology Saccades - physiology Space Perception - physiology Time Factors Visual Perception - physiology

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