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Efficacy of balance training with intermittent sensory perturbations

Award Number: F32AG072808
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 09/30/2023

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Efficacy of balance training with intermittent sensory perturbations - Project Summary/Abstract Falls are the leading cause of fatality among older adults. Previous research has been successful in combating fall risk in older adults with training paradigms, but the efficacy of these training paradigms is not understood. Sensory inputs can be manipulated and motor output can be measured from biomechanical analysis, but the computational processes are a “black box” problem due to previous limitations in non-invasive imaging. Dr. Ferris and his team revolutionized the neuromechanics field through breakthroughs in non-invasive imaging technology via electroencephalography (EEG), allowing them to characterize computational processes in parallel with sensory manipulation and biomechanical analysis during balance training. To understand the efficacy of training paradigms on fall risk reduction, there is a need to simultaneously investigate the neuromechanical components (sensory integration, computational processes, motor output) in response to training paradigms between older and younger adults. Dr. Pliner’s research objective will be to quantify the efficacy of balance training paradigms on neuromechanical components by manipulating sensory information and measuring electrocortical and biomechanical responses. The training to complete this objective will advance Dr. Pliner’s career goals of becoming a leading human factors expert on safety and falls prevention. Her proposal aims are to quantify the efficacy of balance training with intermittent perturbations across sensory modalities in younger (Aim 1) and older (Aim 2) adults, and to quantify aging effects on sensory, computational and motor responses during balance training (Aim 3). 160 younger and older adults will walk on a beam fixed to a treadmill moving at 0.22 m/s. Participants will be randomly allocated to a balance training paradigm with intermittent sensory perturbations (visual, somatosensory, vestibular, none). Sensory perturbations will occur for 1.5 s during the double support phase of gait every 8 s. Participant kinematics and electrocortical activity will be quantified during testing and training sessions from reflective markers via a motion capture system and custom-built EEG system. This work will uncover the sensory integration, computational processes and motor outputs of balance training in younger and older adults. We expect balance performance, perturbation detection (theta synchronization), and motor commands (alpha-beta desynchronization) to vary by balance training paradigm with sensory perturbations. This will reveal critical knowledge on balance training efficacy for the aging, falls and neuromechanics fields and is necessary to design interventions of high efficacy to reduce fall injuries in older adults. Dr. Pliner will gain expertise in neuromechanical components of mobility and aging and skilled-based expertise in novel electrocortical data extraction procedures. In addition, Dr. Pliner will develop and advance her mentoring skills. She will mentee an undergraduate student underrepresented in the STEM fields through the scientific method and to a 1st author manuscript. This training plan will fill gaps in Dr. Pliner’s research experience and empower her to uniquely advance the human factors field.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = -$910 )
2024	2023	UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA	1523 UNION RD RM 207	GAINESVILLE	FL	32611	ALACHUA	USA	Aging Research	000	3	7/24/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$910
														Subtotal = -$910

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $11,066 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA	1523 UNION RD RM 207	GAINESVILLE	FL	32611	ALACHUA	USA	Aging Research	001	3	9/8/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$11,066
2023	2022	UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA	1523 UNION RD RM 207	GAINESVILLE	FL	32611	ALACHUA	USA	Aging Research	000	2	8/18/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $11,066

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $67,582 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA	1523 UNION RD RM 207	GAINESVILLE	FL	32611	ALACHUA	USA	Aging Research	000	2	8/19/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$67,582
														Subtotal = $67,582

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $65,994 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA	1523 UNION RD RM 207	GAINESVILLE	FL	32611	ALACHUA	USA	Aging Research	001	1	9/2/2021	NEW	$0
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA	1523 UNION RD RM 207	GAINESVILLE	FL	32611	ALACHUA	USA	Aging Research	002	1	9/2/2021	NEW	$0
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA	1523 UNION RD RM 207	GAINESVILLE	FL	32611	ALACHUA	USA	Aging Research	000	1	5/28/2021	NEW	$65,994
														Subtotal = $65,994

Grand Total All Awards = $143,732

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Efficacy of balance training with intermittent sensory perturbations

Award Number: F32AG072808

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 09/30/2023

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