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The Speed of Optic Flow Stimuli Influences Body Sway

Author

Listed:
  • Milena Raffi

    (Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy)

  • Aurelio Trofè

    (Department of Quality of Life, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy)

  • Andrea Meoni

    (Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy)

  • Alessandro Piras

    (Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy)

Abstract

Optic flow is a perceptual cue processed for self-motion control. The aim of this study was to investigate whether postural control is modulated by the speed of radial optic flow stimuli. The experiments were performed on 20 healthy volunteers using stabilometry and surface electromyography (EMG). The subjects were instructed to fixate a central fixation point while radial optic flow stimuli were presented full field, in the foveal and in the peripheral visual field at different dots speed (8, 11, 14, 17 and 20°/s). Fixation in the dark was used as control stimulus. The EMG analysis showed that male and female subjects reacted to the stimuli with different muscle activity (main effects for gender, muscle and laterality: p < 0.001). The analysis of the center of pressure (COP) parameters showed that optic flow stimuli had a different effect on the left and right limbs of males and females (main effects of laterality: p < 0.015; interaction effects of gender and laterality: p < 0.016). The low speed of optic flow stimuli (8 and 11°/s) evoked non-uniform directions of oscillations especially in peripheral stimulation in all subjects, meaning that optic flow simulating slow self-motion stabilizes body sway.

Suggested Citation

  • Milena Raffi & Aurelio Trofè & Andrea Meoni & Alessandro Piras, 2022. "The Speed of Optic Flow Stimuli Influences Body Sway," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-11, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:17:p:10796-:d:901782
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ying-hui Chou & Robert C. Wagenaar & Elliot Saltzman & J. Erik Giphart & Daniel Young & Rosa Davidsdottir & Alice Cronin-Golomb, 2009. "Effects of Optic Flow Speed and Lateral Flow Asymmetry on Locomotion in Younger and Older Adults: A Virtual Reality Study," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 64(2), pages 222-231.
    2. Milena Raffi & Aurelio Trofè & Andrea Meoni & Luca Gallelli & Alessandro Piras, 2022. "Optic Flow Speed and Retinal Stimulation Influence Microsaccades," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-10, June.
    3. Kentaro Horiuchi & Kuniyasu Imanaka & Masami Ishihara, 2021. "Postural sway in the moving room scenario: New evidence for functional dissociation between self-motion perception and postural control," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(9), pages 1-20, September.
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