Intentional Attention Control Related to Postural Stability in Fearful/Anxious Environments

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K17699
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: Kobe International University
• Principal Investigator: Otani Yoshitaka 神戸国際大学, リハビリテーション学部, 助教 (50732997)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 姿勢制御 / 恐怖 / 内的焦点 / 外的焦点 / 注意

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study was conducted to determine the effects of fear on postural control and internal attentional dynamics and the effects of intentional attentional control (internal focus/external focus) on postural control under fear. An experimental task was conducted to elicit emotions by presenting an image while maintaining an upright position. The results showed that fear decreased body sway but did not change attention to self during postural control. In addition, fear induces the suppression of body sway, but intentionally allocating attention outside the body (external focus) during fear induction may attenuate the suppression of body sway.

Free Research Field

姿勢制御

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、恐怖感が姿勢制御に影響を及ぼすことを明らかにし、意図的な注意制御によって姿勢バランスをコントロールできる可能性を示した点で学術的な意義がある。しかし、今回は主に健常な若年者および高齢者を対象としたため、実際に転倒恐怖感を有する高齢者等に対する有効性の検証には至っていない。そのため、社会的意義を高めていく必要がある。