Postural coordination and control to the precision demands of light finger touch.

Abstract

We examine the proposition that information availability and postural facilitation-usually viewed as opposing views in postural control-are intertwined with the effects of one being related to the other. If that is the case, a single control parameter (precision demands) would capture the changes in postural control relating information and postural facilitation. Using the dynamical systems approach, we investigated whether, manipulating touch requirements as to increase precision demands, would induce quantitative and qualitative changes in postural dynamics. Additionally, we tested whether the COM-COP coupling reflects the qualitative dynamics of the system. Seventeen participants were instructed to maintain quiet standing while maintaining or not a light finger force with either precision or no precision. Standard deviation (SD) of the COP decreased with the precision demands and the correlation dimension (CD) of COP showed higher values for the touch conditions. Participants showed reduced synchronization of COP-COM coupling; following changes in CD. These results point out the integrated nature of information availability, task requirements, and the emergent postural organization reflected in COP-COM coupling.