Gait Deviations Induced by Visual Motion Stimulation in Roll Depend on Head Orientation

Abstract

Locomotion control uses proprioceptive, visual, and vestibular signals. Previously, we analyzed the visual contribution with visual motion stimulation in roll while participants kept their heads in a normal upright orientation. In this study we applied the same visual disturbance in a head-upright and a nose-down condition. Random dot patterns were constantly rotated in roll at +/-15 degrees/sec on a computer-driven binocular head-mounted display, while the participants walked a distance of 6 m. The stimulation effect was more pronounced in the nose-down condition. These results are similar to the results of previous galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) studies, suggesting that in terms of the direction of action visual motion stimulation in the roll plane is similar to GVS.