Contribution of Somesthetic Information to the Perception of Body Orientation in the Pitch Dimension

Abstract

This study investigated the contribution of otolithic and somesthetic inputs in the perception of body orientation when pitching at very slow velocities. In Experiment 1, the subjects' task was to indicate their subjective postural vertical, in two different conditions of body restriction, starting from different angles of body tilt. In the "strapped" condition, subjects were attached onto a platform by means of large straps. In the "body cast" condition, subjects were completely immobilized in a depressurized system, which attenuates gravity-based somesthetic cues. Results showed that the condition of body restriction and the initial tilt largely influenced the subjective postural vertical. In Experiment 2, subjects were displaced from a vertical position and had to detect the direction of body tilts. Results showed that the threshold for the perception of body tilt was higher when subjects were immobilized in the body cast and when they were tilted backward. Experiment 3 replicated the same protocol from a supine starting position. Compared to results of Experiment 2, the threshold for the perception of body tilt decreased significantly. Overall, these data suggested that gravity-based somesthetic cues are more informative than otolithic cues for the perception of a quasi-static body orientation.

Gender differences in spatial perception of body tilt

“…Higashiyama and Koga (1998) also proposed that human beings use cutaneous and muscular proprioceptors in estimating body tilt. These and other findings support the view that spatial orientation perception is determined through multisensory processes (Bringoux et al, 2003;Bronstein, 1999;Mittelstaedt, ence the largest tilt bias in the absence of both visual and auditory information and that the bias will be diminished when information from either sensory modality is present. We will also examine the differential effects of adding visual information versus auditory information.…”

“…For example, when an observer is seated in a vehicle that is traveling up or down an incline, there is both visual and proprioceptive information indicating degree of body tilt. Proprioception is itself a multisensory percept that includes contributions from the vestibular system (the semicircular canals and otoliths), baroreceptors (blood pressure sensors), and kinesthetic muscular exertion memory (somesthetic receptors) (Bringoux, Nougier, Barraud, Marin, & Raphel, 2003;Bronstein, 1999;Dalla Pozza, Kleinmann, Kozlik-Feldmann, & Netz, 2006;Day & Cole, 2002;Manchester, Woollacott, Zederbauer-Hylton, & Marin, 1989;Mittelstaedt, 1996;Trousselard, Barraud, Nougier, Raphel, & Cian, 2004). Since in the present study, only psychophysical variables were measured, we did not test the source of proprioceptive information in judgments of body tilt.…”

Influence of Experience on Postural Control: Effect of Expertise in Gymnastics

“…Some of these researchers have demonstrated an effect of gymnastics expertise on postural control abilities: Gymnasts were more sensitive to changes in body orientation and more accurate in estimating the subjective postural vertical than nongymnasts (Bringoux et al, 2000). Other results indicated that gymnasts more rapidly took advantage of the reinsertion of ankle proprioceptive information to decrease their center of pressure displacements (Vuillerme, Teasdale, & Nougier, 2001).…”

“…Researchers have also explored the question from a developmental perspective (Lejeune et al, 2006) and by the investigation of the intense motor experience created, for example, by sports practice. Indeed, postural control is widely acknowledged to be influenced by sports experience, particularly the practice of sports requiring fine postural control (Asseman, Caron, & Cremieux, 2004;Bringoux, Marin, Nougier, Barraud, & Raphel, 2000;Era, Konttinen, Mehto, Saarela, & Lyytinen, 1996;Golomer, Cremieux, Dupui, Isableu, & Ohlmann, 1999;Mesure et al;Perrin, Deviterne, Hugel, & Perrot, 2002;Vuillerme, Danion, et al, 2001;Vuillerme & Nougier, 2004;Vuillerme, Teasdale, & Nougier, 2001). Most studies on this topic have focused on the effect of expertise in gymnastics because it clearly requires fine postural control, but the conclusions still diverge.…”

Assessment of Single-leg Stance Balance Using COP 95% Confidence Ellipse Area

“…(Berg, Wood-Dauphinnee, Williams, & Gayton, 1989;Bohannon, & Leary, 1995;Frzovic, Morris, & Vowels, 2000;Tinetti, 1986). (Bringoux, Marin, Nougier, Barraud, & Raphel, 2000), 각각의 스포츠 종목은 특별한 자세 적응을 발달시킨다 (Asseman, Caron, & Crémieux, 2004;Hugel, Cadopi, Kohler, & Perrin, 1999).…”