Scientific article
OA Policy
English

Cortical Pathways During Postural Control: New Insights From Functional EEG Source Connectivity

Publication date2022
Abstract

Postural control is a complex feedback system that relies on vast array of sensory inputs in order to maintain a stable upright stance. The brain cortex plays a crucial role in the processing of this information and in the elaboration of a successful adaptive strategy to external stimulation preventing loss of balance and falls. In the present work, the participants postural control system was challenged by disrupting the upright stance via a mechanical skeletal muscle vibration applied to the calves. The EEG source connectivity method was used to investigate the cortical response to the external stimulation and highlight the brain network primarily involved in high-level coordination of the postural control system. The cortical network reconfiguration was assessed during two experimental conditions of eyes open and eyes closed and the network flexibility (i.e. its dynamic reconfiguration over time) was correlated with the sample entropy of the stabilogram sway. The results highlight two different cortical strategies in the alpha band: the predominance of frontal lobe connections during open eyes and the strengthening of temporal-parietal network connections in the absence of visual cues. Furthermore, a high correlation emerges between the flexibility in the regions surrounding the right temporo-parietal junction and the sample entropy of the CoP sway, suggesting their centrality in the postural control system. These results open the possibility to employ network-based flexibility metrics as markers of a healthy postural control system, with implications in the diagnosis and treatment of postural impairing diseases.

Keywords
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cues
  • Electroencephalography / methods
  • Humans
  • Postural Balance / physiology
  • Vibration
Funding
  • Rannís Icelandic Research Fund (IRF) - [174236-051]
Citation (ISO format)
BAROLLO, Fabio et al. Cortical Pathways During Postural Control: New Insights From Functional EEG Source Connectivity. In: IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering, 2022, vol. 30, p. 72–84. doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2022.3140888
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
Identifiers
ISSN of the journal1534-4320
23views
8downloads

Technical informations

Creation05/12/2023 17:44:24
First validation07/02/2024 17:47:26
Update time07/02/2024 17:47:26
Status update07/02/2024 17:47:26
Last indexation06/10/2024 22:58:27
All rights reserved by Archive ouverte UNIGE and the University of GenevaunigeBlack