• Neuroscience · Dec 2006

    The postural disorientation induced by neck muscle vibration subsides on lightly touching a stationary surface or aiming at it.

    • M Bove, L Bonzano, C Trompetto, G Abbruzzese, and M Schieppati.
    • Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 3, I-16132 Genoa, Italy. bove@dibe.unige.it
    • Neuroscience. 2006 Dec 28; 143 (4): 1095-103.

    AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate whether the standing body spatial disorientation, induced by neck muscle vibration, and the related post-effects can be suppressed by light finger touch (LFT) of a stationary surface. Continuous (60 s) vibration of dorsal neck or sternocleidomastoid muscle was administered with eyes closed. The center of foot pressure (CFP) displacement, measured by a stabilometric platform, indicated the degree of vibration-induced body tilt. We also investigated whether sensory information from LFT itself was necessary or anticipation of a more secure posture was enough for reducing vibration effects. To this aim, we administered a vibration pulse (5 s) to dorsal neck or sternocleidomastoid muscle and during reaching to the stationary surface. CFP was recorded during both vibration and post-vibration condition and during the aiming task. Neck vibration induced significant CFP displacement in the direction opposite to vibration site. Post-vibration, CFP slowly returned to control values with ample oscillations. LFT during vibration reduced body tilt. LFT was more effective when fingertip contact was in the plane of the greatest tilt. LFT applied during either vibration or post-vibration period reduced post-vibration effects. Reaching toward the stationary surface was enough for reducing vibration-induced body tilt to values close to those observed during actual LFT. The novel conclusions of this study are: 1) LFT is able to relieve the effects of vibration-induced abnormal proprioceptive input from the neck, a segment central to postural control and orientation; 2) LFT during vibration also attenuates vibration post-effects, further suggesting that its action is not merely mechanical; 3) the intention to stabilize the body generates a new postural 'set' sufficient for diminishing body tilt.

      Pubmed     Full text   Copy Citation     Plaintext  

      Add institutional full text...

    Notes

     
    Knowledge, pearl, summary or comment to share?
    300 characters remaining
    help        
    You can also include formatting, links, images and footnotes in your notes
    • Simple formatting can be added to notes, such as *italics*, _underline_ or **bold**.
    • Superscript can be denoted by <sup>text</sup> and subscript <sub>text</sub>.
    • Numbered or bulleted lists can be created using either numbered lines 1. 2. 3., hyphens - or asterisks *.
    • Links can be included with: [my link to pubmed](http://pubmed.com)
    • Images can be included with: ![alt text](https://bestmedicaljournal.com/study_graph.jpg "Image Title Text")
    • For footnotes use [^1](This is a footnote.) inline.
    • Or use an inline reference [^1] to refer to a longer footnote elseweher in the document [^1]: This is a long footnote..

    hide…

What will the 'Medical Journal of You' look like?

Start your free 21 day trial now.

We guarantee your privacy. Your email address will not be shared.