Efficacy of balance training with intermittent sensory perturbations

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Project Summary/Abstract Falls are the leading cause of fatality among older adults. Previous research has been successful in combating fall risk in older adults with training paradigms, but the efficacy of these training paradigms is not understood. Sensory inputs can be manipulated and motor output can be measured from biomechanical analysis, but the computational processes are a “black box” problem due to previous limitations in non-invasive imaging. Dr. Ferris and his team revolutionized the neuromechanics field through breakthroughs in non-invasive imaging technology via electroencephalography (EEG), allowing them to characterize computational processes in parallel with sensory manipulation and biomechanical analysis during balance training. To understand the efficacy of training paradigms on fall risk reduction, there is a need to simultaneously investigate the neuromechanical components (sensory integration, computational processes, motor output) in response to training paradigms between older and younger adults. Dr. Pliner’s research objective will be to quantify the efficacy of balance training paradigms on neuromechanical components by manipulating sensory information and measuring electrocortical and biomechanical responses. The training to complete this objective will advance Dr. Pliner’s career goals of becoming a leading human factors expert on safety and falls prevention. Her proposal aims are to quantify the efficacy of balance training with intermittent perturbations across sensory modalities in younger (Aim 1) and older (Aim 2) adults, and to quantify aging effects on sensory, computational and motor responses during balance training (Aim 3). 160 younger and older adults will walk on a beam fixed to a treadmill moving at 0.22 m/s. Participants will be randomly allocated to a balance training paradigm with intermittent sensory perturbations (visual, somatosensory, vestibular, none). Sensory perturbations will occur for 1.5 s during the double support phase of gait every 8 s. Participant kinematics and electrocortical activity will be quantified during testing and training sessions from reflective markers via a motion capture system and custom-built EEG system. This work will uncover the sensory integration, computational processes and motor outputs of balance training in younger and older adults. We expect balance performance, perturbation detection (theta synchronization), and motor commands (alpha-beta desynchronization) to vary by balance training paradigm with sensory perturbations. This will reveal critical knowledge on balance training efficacy for the aging, falls and neuromechanics fields and is necessary to design interventions of high efficacy to reduce fall injuries in older adults. Dr. Pliner will gain expertise in neuromechanical components of mobility and aging and skilled-based expertise in novel electrocortical data extraction procedures. In addition, Dr. Pliner will develop and advance her mentoring skills. She will mentee an undergraduate student underrepresented in the STEM fields through the scientific method and to a 1st author manuscript. This training plan will fill gaps in Dr. Pliner’s research experience and empower her to uniquely advance the human factors field.