Fear of heights shapes postural responses to vibration-induced balance perturbation at virtual height.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Standing upright at height is a challenging situation involving intense threat of balance loss and fall. The ability to maintain balance in such conditions requires properly resolving sensory conflicts and is influenced by fear. To get more insight on the role of fear in balance control at height, we explored the dynamics of postural behavior in the situation of enhanced threat of potential balance loss.

Methods

In 40 young individuals with varying fear of heights, we combined simulated exposure to height in a virtual reality environment with bilateral vibration of tibialis anterior muscles which evokes posture destabilization (the so-called vibration-induced falling).

Results

Under such condition of enhanced postural threat, individuals with intense fear

SUBMITTER: Bzduskova D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10523023 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature