Mechanisms for maintaining balance during locomotion

• Applicant: Dr. Hendrik Reimann
• Subject Area: Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology
• Term: from 2016 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 289390093

The goal of this project is to identify mechanisms used by humans to maintain balance during locomotion. We use control approaches for locomotion in humanoid robots to make testable predictions about motor responses to perturbations during walking. To isolate control responses from mechanical effects, we use purely sensory perturbations of the visual and vestibular systems. We propose three specific aims:A. To determine whether placement of footsteps is used as a balancing mechanism during locomotion.Stepping more towards one side forces the body to move towards the opposite side. This can be used as a balancing mechanism and is consistent with experimental data. It is unclear, though, whether the observed step changes are a result of active control or purely passive, mechanical effects.B. To investigate the role of continuous feedback for balance during locomotion.Using the stance leg to actively push against the ground can also affect the body movement. While some studies have reported data in support of this mechanism in humans, it has not been subject of thorough analysis.C. To understand the relationship between upper and lower body movements during locomotion.Multi-joint dynamics during locomotion has been studied extensively from a biomechanical perspective, but few studies address the problems posed by interactions between different body segments for active control and balance during locomotion.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professor John Jeka, Ph.D.