Abstract

The long-term goal of this project is to gain an improved understanding of the influence of aging on balance function so that elderly persons with disequilibrium can be managed more effectively. Because balance function is known to depend in large part on both visual and vestibular function, this study will evaluate the effect of aging on a well established vestibulo-ocular phenomenon, velocity storage. Elderly persons will be tested to assess the vestibulo-ocular and visuo-ocular reflexes including responses of both the semicircular canals and otolith organs of the vestibular system and the response to moving visual stimuli.
The specific aims of this study are to test several hypotheses that pertain to the effect of aging on velocity storage. The vestibulo-ocular and visuo-ocular reflexes of young adults will be tested for comparison to the responses of the elderly individuals. Vestibular stimulation will be accomplished using computer controlled rotation about an earth vertical axis and about an off-vertical axis. Visual stimuli will include precise movements of full-field optokinetic stripes. Several pairwise interactions of the vestibular and visual stimuli will be recorded to evaluate """"""""charging"""""""" and """"""""dumping"""""""" of velocity storage. The information provided from this study will improve our understanding of the effect of the aging process on vestibular function and will have implications regarding sensory-motor transformation and sensory-sensory interactions.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01AG010009-01
Application #
3121971
Study Section
Hearing Research Study Section (HAR)
Project Start
1991-08-02
Project End
1996-07-31
Budget Start
1991-08-02
Budget End
1992-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
053785812
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213

  Publications

Nie, Baohua; Zhao, Zihua; Liu, Shu et al. (2018) Very High Cycle Fatigue Behavior of a Directionally Solidified Ni-Base Superalloy DZ4. Materials (Basel) 11:
Nie, Baohua; Zhao, Zihua; Ouyang, Yongzhong et al. (2017) Effect of Low Cycle Fatigue Predamage on Very High Cycle Fatigue Behavior of TC21 Titanium Alloy. Materials (Basel) 10:
Chang, Menglei; Hu, Huawen; Zhang, Yuyuan et al. (2017) Improving Visible Light-Absorptivity and Photoelectric Conversion Efficiency of a TiO? Nanotube Anode Film by Sensitization with Bi?O? Nanoparticles. Nanomaterials (Basel) 7:
Fuhrman, Susan I; Redfern, Mark S; Jennings, J Richard et al. (2015) Interference between postural control and spatial vs. non-spatial auditory reaction time tasks in older adults. J Vestib Res 25:47-55
Furman, Joseph M; Redfern, Mark S; Fuhrman, Susan I et al. (2012) Visual-vestibular stimulation influences spatial and non-spatial cognitive processing. J Vestib Res 22:253-9
Jennings, J Richard; Mendelson, David N; Redfern, Mark S et al. (2011) Detecting age differences in resistance to perceptual and motor interference. Exp Aging Res 37:179-97
Ward, Bryan K; Mohammad, Maha T; Whitney, Susan L et al. (2010) The reliability, stability, and concurrent validity of a test of gaze stabilization. J Vestib Res 20:363-72
Ward, Bryan K; Redfern, Mark S; Jennings, J Richard et al. (2008) The influence of cognitive tasks on vestibular-induced eye movements in young and older adults. J Vestib Res 18:187-95
Landgraff, Nancy C; Whitney, Susan L; Rubinstein, Elaine N et al. (2006) Use of the physical performance test to assess preclinical disability in subjects with asymptomatic carotid artery disease. Phys Ther 86:541-8
Whitney, Susan L; Sparto, Patrick J; Hodges, Larry F et al. (2006) Responses to a virtual reality grocery store in persons with and without vestibular dysfunction. Cyberpsychol Behav 9:152-6

Showing the most recent 10 out of 27 publications