Analysis of the effect of stimilating surface somatosensation on postural control with mathematical model

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K04191
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 21040:Control and system engineering-related
• Research Institution: Asahikawa Medical College
• Principal Investigator: Chiba Ryosuke 旭川医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (80396936)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 姿勢制御

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study quantitatively examined the effects of sensory, especially superficial somatosensory stimulation (light touch), on the maintenance of upright posture. The effects were measured by stimulating superficial somatosensory sensations in subjects with visual (closed eyes) and vestibular (Galvanic vestibular stimulation) sensations. The number of subjects was limited to three, as the COVID-19 prevented sufficient subjects from participating in the experiment. The amount of foot pressure movement of the subjects in each sensory input condition did not significantly reduce the centre of gravity sway in any of the sensory conditions. However, the results showed that there were individual differences in the effects of surface somatosensory stimulation, indicating the need for more subject experiments and subject screening.

Free Research Field

生体医工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

前庭感覚の直流刺激がある条件では，表面体性感覚の刺激による姿勢の分散の減少は見られず，重みの変化もほぼ無かった．この結果から従来信頼度に基づく線形の重みづけ和であると考えられてる姿勢制御における感覚統合が，非線形もしくは相互作用のある系での統合である可能性が示された．