Linking Information about Self-motion to Multi-joint Coordination of Upright Stance

在稳定站立的同时，如何利用感觉信息来协调身体的多个关节，同时允许进行其他更有活力的动作？这个项目将研究视觉信息对肌肉和关节协调的影响，这些协调与身体重心和头部位置的控制有关。将通过修改支撑面的触觉信息来评估感官对多关节协调的影响的一般性。最后，这项工作将研究当身体的一些部分被阻止移动时，如何保持姿势稳定，类似于受伤和一些疾病过程可能发生的情况。站立平衡不良是导致老年人跌倒和随后住院的主要因素，该项目可能会为指导新疗法的开发提供重要的见解。该项目还将为本科生(通过特拉华大学的本科生研究计划)和高中生(通过马里兰州塞西尔县的STEM计划)提供实验室经验。这项工作促进了马里兰大学和特拉华大学的研究人员与德国波鸿大学的研究人员之间的国际合作，包括为两所参与的美国大学的研究生提供国际研究经验。这项工作由SBE/BCS、EPSCoR和国际科学与工程办公室共同资助。

How is sensory information used to coordinate the many joints of the body during stable standing, while simultaneously allowing for the performance of other more dynamic movements? This project will examine the influence of visual information on muscle and joint coordination related to the control of the body's center of mass and head position. The generality of sensory influences on multijoint coordination will be assessed by modifying tactile information from the support surface. Finally, the work will examine how postural stability is maintained when some of the body's segments are prevented from moving, analogous to what may occur as a result of injury and some disease processes.Poor standing balance is a leading contributor to falls and subsequent hospitalization of the elderly and this project may provide important insights to guide the development of new treatments. The project will also provide laboratory experiences for undergraduate students (through the University of Delaware's Undergraduate Research Program) and for high school students (through the STEM program of Cecil County, Maryland). The work fosters an international collaboration between investigators at the University of Maryland and the University of Delaware and those at the University of Bochum in Germany, including international research experience for a graduate student from each of the two participating U.S. universities.This work is co-funded by SBE/BCS, EPSCoR, and the Office of International Science and Engineering.