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Cognitive demands for postural control in younger and older adults were examined under conditions of postural threat. Age-related differences emerged in the distribution of attention for postural control in conditions of postural threat. Specifically, porutral compensations were implented to reduce cognitive demands for postural control. In addition, it was determined that the effect of performing a secondary cognitive task on postural control was altered when the potential consequences of instability were increased. Younger adults were found to maintain postural control and improve secondary task performance in conditions of increased threat whereas postural control in older adults improved at the expense of secondary task performance. In older adults, postural control may be prioritized under conditions that increase arousal and the consequences of imbalance. These findings have implications for reducing falls in elderly populations, as they reveal that the ability to adequately perform concurrent tasks is compromised when environmental factors threaten balance in elderly populations. / xi, 113 leaves ; 28 cm.

The effects of postural threat and the potential consequences of obstacle contact on the obstacle contact on the obstacle negotiation kinematics among younger and older adults were examined. Seventeen older (OA;7males, 10 females; mean age, 68.94 + 4.85) and fifteen younger adults (YA; 5males, 10 females; mean age, 22.53 + 2.77) negotiated virtual and real obstacles while walking at a self-determined velocity along a 7.2m walkway under 4 different conditions of postural threat. Postural threat was manipulated by varying the width (0.60m)) of the walkway. Postural threat altered crossing kinematics for all subjects. Specifically, age-related differences emerged with increasing postural threat, however the changes observed among older adults were considerably different from those of younger adults. Additionally, there was no effect for the potential consequences of obstacle contact, however, no age-related differences emerged. These results revealed an effect for postural threat and obstacle characteristics on the negotiation strategies of younger and older adults. Both postural threat and obstacle characteristics elicit conservative crossing kinematics in younger and older adults. Specifically, these findings illustrate age-dependent differences in obstacle negotiation strategies and that postural threat affects older adults differently than younger adults whereas the potential consequences of obstacle contact affects younger and older adults equally. / xii, 79 leaves ; 28 cm.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2004. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 141 p.; also includes graphics (some col.). Includes bibliographical references (p. 128-141). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1969. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Drexel University, 2009. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-114).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1974. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S. in Electrical Engineering)--Naval Postgraduate School, September 2004. / Thesis Advisor(s): Xiaoping Yun. Includes bibliographical references (p. 59-60). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S. in Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation)--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2005. / Thesis Advisor(s): Rudolph Darken. Includes bibliographical references (p. 59-61). Also available online.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Victoria University (Melbourne, Vic.), 2009.