A Nonlinear Dynamical Technique for Improving the Function of the Human Postural Control System

9634024柯林斯这个项目的目标是开发一种基于噪声的技术，该技术可用于降低本体感觉系统的检测阈值，从而改善人体姿势控制系统的性能。人类的直立姿势受到一个复杂的控制系统的控制，该系统涉及许多不同的感觉机制，包括本体感觉系统。非周期随机共振(ASR)是一种非线性系统对亚阈值非周期输入信号的响应因存在特定水平的噪声而被优化的现象。ASR已在一个简单的神经元模型和皮肤感觉神经元中得到证实。这项工作表明，应该有可能在神经生理感觉系统(例如本体感觉系统)中人为地引入噪声，以提高其检测任意亚阈值信号的能力。然而，到目前为止，生物工程的应用还没有得到探索。这项研究的具体目标是：1)建立一个生理上真实的神经元模型，作为ASR生物工程应用的试验床；2)证明本体感觉系统的检测阈值随着输入噪声的增加而改变；3)证明噪声引起的脚踝本体感觉检测阈值的变化影响姿势控制系统。这项工作可能导致开发一种廉价的技术来改善人体姿势控制系统的性能。这种技术可能会对本体感觉阈值升高的个人产生重要影响，例如老年人和神经障碍患者，他们可能容易摔倒。因此，该项目的结果最终可能有助于降低跌倒的发生率、成本和健康风险。***

9634024 Collins The objective of this project, which is a renewal proposal of a prior NSF award, is to develop a noise-based technique which can be used to lower the detection thresholds of the proprioceptive system and thereby improve the performance of the human postural control system. Upright stance in humans is regulated by a complex control system that involves a number of different sensory mechanisms, including the proprioceptive system. Aperiodic stochastic resonance (ASR) is a phenomenon wherein the response of a nonlinear system to a subthreshold aperiodic input signal is optimized by the presence of a particular level of noise. ASR has been demonstrated in a simple neuronal model and in cutaneous sensory neurons. This work suggests that it should be possible to introduce noise artificially into a neurophysiological sensory system (e.g., the proprioceptive system) in order to improve its ability to detect arbitrary subthreshold signals. To date, however, bioengineering applications have not been explored. The specific objectives of this study are 1) to develop a physiologically-realistic neuronal model as a test-bed for bioengineering applications of ASR; 2) to demonstrate that the detection thresholds of the proprioceptive system are changed with the addition of input noise; and 3) to demonstrate that noise-induced changes to the proprioceptive detection thresholds at the ankle affect the postural control system. This work could result in the development of an inexpensive technique for improving the performance of the human postural control system. Such a technique could have important ramifications for individuals with elevated proprioceptive thresholds, such as older adults and patients with neural disorders, who may be predisposed to falls. Thus, the results of this project could eventually serve to reduce the incidence, cost, and health risks of falling. ***