Reduced Gain and Shortened Time Constant of Vestibular Velocity Storage as a Source of Balance and Movement Sensitivities in Gravitational Insecurity
Gravitational insecurity (GrI) involves lifetime movement and balance concerns whose pathophysiological origins are unclear. We tested whether balance symptoms in mild GrI might involve anomalies in vestibular velocity storage (VVS), a brainstem/cerebellar circuit that amplifies gain and prolongs th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Occupational Therapy International |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/5240907 |
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| author | Michael Potegal Teresa A. May-Benson Sara Oxborough Amy Hall Stefanie McKnight |
| author_facet | Michael Potegal Teresa A. May-Benson Sara Oxborough Amy Hall Stefanie McKnight |
| author_sort | Michael Potegal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Gravitational insecurity (GrI) involves lifetime movement and balance concerns whose pathophysiological origins are unclear. We tested whether balance symptoms in mild GrI might involve anomalies in vestibular velocity storage (VVS), a brainstem/cerebellar circuit that amplifies gain and prolongs the persistence of weak vestibular signals from small/slow head movements. A Provisional Gravitational Insecurity Index (PGrI) was developed, evaluated for psychometrics/demographics, and used to identify otherwise healthy adults with life-long balance challenges as well as sex, age, and ethnicity-matched comparison adults without such challenges. Balance confidence, sensory hypersensitivities, spatial orientation, anxiety, and hearing loss were self-reported. Standing balance under visual/proprioceptive restrictions and perrotary vestibulo-ocular nystagmus were evaluated. The PGrI showed approximated test-retest reliability and convergent and discriminant validity. When only vestibular input was available, mild GrI participants on a tilting platform used effortful hip strategies for balance significantly more than did comparison participants. Rotation testing revealed that mild GrI participants had significantly less low frequency gain and shortened VVS persistence. Combined, these two parameters correlated significantly with PGrI. The PGrI also correlated with problematic spatial orientation, but surprisingly, not to anxiety. Balance/movement issues in GrI are likely due to VVS deficiencies. Additional mechanisms may account for other GrI symptoms. Better understanding of GrI’s pathophysiological basis will be useful in informing the larger health-provider community about this condition. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5a82351fcd3a42f0abbee865566fa9f4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1557-0703 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Occupational Therapy International |
| spelling | doaj-art-5a82351fcd3a42f0abbee865566fa9f42025-02-03T07:25:03ZengWileyOccupational Therapy International1557-07032022-01-01202210.1155/2022/5240907Reduced Gain and Shortened Time Constant of Vestibular Velocity Storage as a Source of Balance and Movement Sensitivities in Gravitational InsecurityMichael Potegal0Teresa A. May-Benson1Sara Oxborough2Amy Hall3Stefanie McKnight4University of MinnesotaSpiral FoundationNational Dizzy and Balance CenterUniversity of MinnesotaUniversity of MinnesotaGravitational insecurity (GrI) involves lifetime movement and balance concerns whose pathophysiological origins are unclear. We tested whether balance symptoms in mild GrI might involve anomalies in vestibular velocity storage (VVS), a brainstem/cerebellar circuit that amplifies gain and prolongs the persistence of weak vestibular signals from small/slow head movements. A Provisional Gravitational Insecurity Index (PGrI) was developed, evaluated for psychometrics/demographics, and used to identify otherwise healthy adults with life-long balance challenges as well as sex, age, and ethnicity-matched comparison adults without such challenges. Balance confidence, sensory hypersensitivities, spatial orientation, anxiety, and hearing loss were self-reported. Standing balance under visual/proprioceptive restrictions and perrotary vestibulo-ocular nystagmus were evaluated. The PGrI showed approximated test-retest reliability and convergent and discriminant validity. When only vestibular input was available, mild GrI participants on a tilting platform used effortful hip strategies for balance significantly more than did comparison participants. Rotation testing revealed that mild GrI participants had significantly less low frequency gain and shortened VVS persistence. Combined, these two parameters correlated significantly with PGrI. The PGrI also correlated with problematic spatial orientation, but surprisingly, not to anxiety. Balance/movement issues in GrI are likely due to VVS deficiencies. Additional mechanisms may account for other GrI symptoms. Better understanding of GrI’s pathophysiological basis will be useful in informing the larger health-provider community about this condition.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/5240907 |
| spellingShingle | Michael Potegal Teresa A. May-Benson Sara Oxborough Amy Hall Stefanie McKnight Reduced Gain and Shortened Time Constant of Vestibular Velocity Storage as a Source of Balance and Movement Sensitivities in Gravitational Insecurity Occupational Therapy International |
| title | Reduced Gain and Shortened Time Constant of Vestibular Velocity Storage as a Source of Balance and Movement Sensitivities in Gravitational Insecurity |
| title_full | Reduced Gain and Shortened Time Constant of Vestibular Velocity Storage as a Source of Balance and Movement Sensitivities in Gravitational Insecurity |
| title_fullStr | Reduced Gain and Shortened Time Constant of Vestibular Velocity Storage as a Source of Balance and Movement Sensitivities in Gravitational Insecurity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reduced Gain and Shortened Time Constant of Vestibular Velocity Storage as a Source of Balance and Movement Sensitivities in Gravitational Insecurity |
| title_short | Reduced Gain and Shortened Time Constant of Vestibular Velocity Storage as a Source of Balance and Movement Sensitivities in Gravitational Insecurity |
| title_sort | reduced gain and shortened time constant of vestibular velocity storage as a source of balance and movement sensitivities in gravitational insecurity |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/5240907 |
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