Adaptation of the Feedforward Postural Response to Repeated Continuous Postural Perturbations

Abstract

We examined the adaptation of the postural response to repeated predictable platform oscillations. Our main goals were to determine whether the short-term changes that occurred during a minute long continuous postural perturbation trial were maintained in subsequent trials and to determine how many trials were required before participants fully adapted to the postural task. Ten participants performed ten minute-long postural trials on a platform that oscillated at 0.25 Hz before increasing to 0.50 Hz half way through each trial. Postural muscle onset latencies, burst amplitudes, and anterior posterior displacements of the center of pressure (COP) and center of mass (COM) were calculated for the last five cycles performed in each trial at 0.50 Hz. The postural strategy evolved in two phases: 1) immediate decrease in COP displacement ; 2) earlier activation of the postural muscles with smaller muscle burst amplitudes. After seven trials the postural response remained consistent.