Central and peripheral mechanisms controlling human postural control

控制人体姿势控制的中枢和外围机制

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-03693
• 负责人: Carpenter, Mark
• 金额: $ 4.74万
• 依托单位: University of British Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=757931
• 关键词: Central; peripheral; mechanisms; controlling; human

Human postural control is a complex sensorimotor task that requires the integration of broad neuro-muscular networks to account for constantly changing task and environmental constraints. As a result, postural control has proven difficult to accurately model and its underlying mechanisms remain elusive. The long-term objective of my fundamental research program is to discover the central and peripheral neural mechanisms that contribute to human postural control. One critical element not captured in current models of postural control is the impact of cognitive-emotional factors such as fear and anxiety. This is commonly experienced as sensations of instability and loss of balance when most individuals try to stand or walk on very high surfaces. Such anxiety-balance interactions may contribute to balance problems and falls in those with a fear of falling, and may also impact performance and safety of those who work under threatening or stressful conditions. Therefore, the short-term objectives of my five-year research program are to understand how anxiety influences the sensorimotor control of human stance, through changes in peripheral reflex mechanisms and central neural networks responsible for postural control. We also aim to examine whether anxiety-related changes in posture may be unique to the control of upright stance, or reflect more generalized changes in motor control. The program utilizes the threat of standing on real, or virtual, elevated surface heights to experimentally manipulate anxiety in healthy young adults. Our research will apply advanced electrophysiological techniques to probe how anxiety changes skin and muscle stretch reflex responses during upright stance. We will also employ novel neural imaging techniques to examine how anxiety modifies cortical and sub-cortical networks during real and simulated balance tasks. Finally, we will use an innovative approach to compare how anxiety influences neuro-muscular control of the upper-limb engaged in postural control tasks that are limited to the local joints (e.g balancing an object on a tray) versus contributing to whole-body stability (e.g holding a handrail while standing on an unstable surface). Throughout the research program we will examine important interactions with biological sex and gender, which may influence the anxiety-response, and the corresponding changes in postural control. The results of this research program will provide crucial evidence needed to a) advance our fundamental knowledge, and develop more accurate models, of human postural control b) design new approaches to assess, and mitigate, the potential psychological origins of balance deficits and falls and c) identify novel training and technological solutions to increase performance and safety of those who must live, work or perform in high stress and anxiety environments.

人类姿势控制是一项复杂的感觉运动任务，需要整合广泛的神经肌肉网络来应对不断变化的任务和环境限制。因此，姿势控制已被证明难以准确建模，其潜在机制仍然难以捉摸。我的基础研究计划的长期目标是发现有助于人类姿势控制的中枢和外周神经机制。当前姿势控制模型中未捕获的一个关键因素是恐惧和焦虑等认知情绪因素的影响。当大多数人尝试在很高的表面站立或行走时，通常会经历不稳定和失去平衡的感觉。这种焦虑与平衡的相互作用可能会导致那些害怕跌倒的人出现平衡问题和跌倒，并且还可能影响那些在威胁或压力条件下工作的人的表现和安全。因此，我五年研究计划的短期目标是了解焦虑如何通过改变外周反射机制和负责姿势控制的中枢神经网络来影响人类姿势的感觉运动控制。我们还旨在研究与焦虑相关的姿势变化是否可能是直立姿势控制所特有的，或者反映了运动控制中更普遍的变化。该项目利用站在真实或虚拟的升高表面高度的威胁来实验性地控制健康年轻人的焦虑。我们的研究将应用先进的电生理学技术来探讨焦虑如何改变直立站立期间的皮肤和肌肉拉伸反射反应。我们还将采用新颖的神经成像技术来检查焦虑在真实和模拟平衡任务中如何改变皮质和皮质下网络。最后，我们将使用一种创新方法来比较焦虑如何影响上肢的神经肌肉控制，这些控制任务仅限于局部关节（例如平衡托盘上的物体）和对全身稳定性的贡献（例如站在不稳定的表面上时握住扶手）。在整个研究计划中，我们将研究与生物性别和性别的重要相互作用，这可能会影响焦虑反应以及姿势控制的相应变化。该研究计划的结果将提供所需的关键证据：a）推进我们的基础知识，开发更准确的人类姿势控制模型；b）设计新方法来评估和减轻平衡缺陷和跌倒的潜在心理根源；c）确定新颖的培训和技术解决方案，以提高那些必须在高压力和焦虑环境中生活、工作或表演的人的表现和安全。