accadic eye movement performance reduces visual manipulation influence and center of pressure displacements in older faller

Author(s)

de Souza, Nathaly Freitas ^{[1, 2]} ; Brito, Matheus Belizario ^{[1, 2]} ; Rodrigues, Sergio Tosi ^{[1, 2]} ; Cavalieri, Beatriz Carvalho ^[1] ; Lima, Diego Nera ^[1] ; de Moraes, Rodolfo Lemes ^[1] ; Barbieri, Fabio Augusto ^{[2, 3]} ; Barela, Jose Angelo ^[4] ; Polastri, Paula Favaro ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Fac Sci, Dept Phys Educ, Lab Informat Vis & Act LIVIA, Av Eng Luiz Edmundo Carrijo Coube 14-01, BR-17033360 Bauru, SP - Brazil

^[2] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Grad Program Movement Sci, Bauru, SP - Brazil

^[3] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Fac Sci, Dept Phys Educ, Human Movement Res Lab MOVI LAB, Bauru, SP - Brazil

^[4] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Inst Biosci, Dept Phys Educ, Movement Studies Lab LEM, Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Experimental Brain Research; v. 240, n. 2 NOV 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

This study examined changes in postural control and gaze performance of faller and non-faller older adults under conditions of visual tasks and optical flow manipulations. Fifteen older non-fallers (69.8 years, +/- 3.2) and fifteen older fallers (71.1 years, +/- 6.4) stood on a force platform inside a moving room wearing an eye tracker. Four tasks were performed: gaze fixation; predictable saccades; unpredictable saccades; and free-viewing. The stimuli appeared at a frequency of 1.1 Hz during conditions of predictable and unpredictable saccades. Sixteen trials were divided into two blocks. In the first block, the room remained stationary. In the second block, the room oscillated, without the participant's awareness, with a 0.6 cm amplitude and 0.2 Hz frequency. Results showed postural sway attenuation in older fallers during the saccadic tasks compared to gaze fixation and free-viewing tasks, in both stationary and moving room conditions. Both groups showed increased center of pressure (CoP) magnitude during the moving room condition and CoP displacements strongly coupled to the room's movement. The influence of the moving room on the postural sway was reduced during the saccadic tasks for both older groups. Older fallers exhibited higher variability compared to older non-fallers. Gaze behavior differences between groups were dependent on the goals of the visual tasks. Therefore, CoP displacements of older adults are reduced during saccadic tasks regardless of their falling history. However, postural and gaze performance of older fallers suggests increased deterioration of postural and oculomotor control which may be used as a predictor of fall risk. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/12856-2 - Effect of gaze behavior in the coupling between visual informação and body sway of young adults
• Grantee: Matheus Belizário Brito
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 14/23963-1 - Effect of gaze behavior in the coupling between visual information and body sway of young and elderly adults
• Grantee: Paula Fávaro Polastri Zago
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants