Efficacy of balance training with intermittent sensory perturbations

项目总结/摘要 福尔斯是老年人死亡的主要原因。以前的研究已经成功地对抗了 老年人的跌倒风险与训练模式，但这些训练模式的有效性还不清楚。 感觉输入可以被操纵，运动输出可以从生物力学分析中测量，但是 由于先前在非侵入性成像中的限制，计算过程是一个“黑盒”问题。博士 费里斯和他的团队通过非侵入性成像的突破彻底改变了神经力学领域 技术通过脑电图（EEG），使他们能够表征计算过程， 平衡训练中的感觉操作和生物力学分析。了解 培训模式对降低跌倒风险的有效性，有必要同时调查 神经机械组件（感觉整合，计算过程，运动输出）响应 老年人和年轻人之间的培训模式。普利纳博士的研究目标将是量化 平衡训练模式对感觉信息调控神经力学成分的影响 并测量皮层电反应和生物力学反应。完成这一目标的培训将 推进Pliner博士的职业目标，即成为安全和福尔斯预防方面领先的人为因素专家。 她的建议旨在量化平衡训练的有效性， 在年轻人（目标1）和老年人（目标2）的模式，并量化老化对感官，计算， 平衡训练中的运动反应（目标3）。160名年轻人和老年人将在固定的横梁上行走 到以0.22米/秒的速度运动的跑步机。参与者将被随机分配到一个平衡训练模式， 间歇性感觉扰动（视觉、躯体感觉、前庭、无）。会出现感官上的干扰 在步态的双支撑阶段，每8 s持续1.5s。参与者运动学和皮层电活动 将在测试和训练期间通过运动捕捉系统从反射标记进行量化， 定制的脑电图系统这项工作将揭示感觉整合，计算过程和运动 年轻人和老年人的平衡训练的结果。我们期望平衡性能，扰动 检测（θ同步）和电机命令（α-β去同步），以根据平衡而变化 感觉扰动的训练模式。这将揭示平衡训练效果的关键知识， 老化、福尔斯和神经力学领域，有必要设计高效的干预措施， 老年人跌倒受伤。Pliner博士将获得移动性和衰老的神经机械组件方面的专业知识 以及在新的皮层电数据提取程序方面的熟练专业知识。此外，Dr. Pliner将 发展和提高她的指导技能。她将指导一名本科生， STEM领域通过科学方法和第一作者手稿。这个培训计划将填补博士的空白。 Pliner的研究经验，使她能够独特地推进人的因素领域。

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.