When mechanical engineering inspired from physiology improves postural-related somatosensory processes
Résumé
Despite numerous studies uncovering the neural signature of tactile processing, tactile afferent
inputs relating to the contact surface has not been studied so far. Foot tactile receptors being the
first stimulated by the relativemovement of the foot skin and the underneathmoving support play
an important role in the sensorimotor transformation giving rise to a postural reaction.A biomimetic
surface, i.e., complying with the skin dermatoglyphs and tactile receptors characteristics should
facilitate the cortical processes. Participants (n= 15) stood either on a biomimetic surface or on two
control surfaces, when a sudden acceleration of the supporting surface was triggered (experiment 1). A
larger intensity and shorter somatosensory response (i.e., SEP) was evoked by the biomimetic surface
motion. This result and the associated decrease of theta activity (5–7 Hz) over the posterior parietal
cortex suggest that increasing the amount of sensory input processing couldmake the balance task
less challenging when standing on a biomimetic surface. This key point was confrmed by a second
experiment (n= 21) where a cognitive task was added, hence decreasing the attentional resources
devoted to the balancemotor task. Greater efciency of the postural reaction was observed while
standing on the biomimetic than on the control surfaces.
Domaines
Neurosciences [q-bio.NC]Origine | Fichiers éditeurs autorisés sur une archive ouverte |
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