The purpose of this project was to examine limitations of human motor control during postural recovery. A dual task paradigm, the Psychological Refractory Period (PRP), was used to overload the attentional resources of a group of young (20-35 yrs.) and older (70-85 yrs.) adults. Specifically, the intention was to identify age-related differences associated with the selection of an appropriate rapid, discrete muscular response concurrent to the execution of an automatic (non-attention demanding) postural response. Subjects were required to respond as quickly and accurately to two closely presented stimuli; a precision grip force task (HHFT) and toes-up perturbation, respectively. Reaction time and the waveform integrals for each task were analyzed using a 3 (SOA) x 2 (conditions) x 2 (age-groups) mixed model repeated measures ANOVA. Participants apparently restructured the task requirements so posture could be equilibrated, but at a cost of reduced speed and accuracy of the primary task. Also, MLR and LLR amplitudes were greater as the SOA shortened. Data suggest that young and elderly grouped the griping response with the APR. The primary stimulus appeared to be a primer to prepare both responses for the platform rotation trigger. It was concluded that postural recovery is attentionally demanding. Moreover, this study reinforces the notion that postural recovery involves feedforward as well as feedback control mechanisms. Effects of the interference task on postural mechanisms may depend upon the underlying mechanisms of motor control rather than sensory deprivation. / A Dissertation Submitted to the Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Science in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of
Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2003. / July 8, 2003. / Limitations Of Human Motor Control During Postural / Includes bibliographical references. / Tonya Toole, Professor Directing Dissertation; John E. Bertram, Committee Member; George Weaver, Outside Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_176128 |
| Contributors | Sos, Brian David (authoraut), Toole, Tonya (professor directing dissertation), Bertram, John E. (committee member), Weaver, George (outside committee member), Department of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Science (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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