Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Balance is an important requirement for many of our daily activities. The control of balance was historically thought to be a relatively unconscious automatic process normally carried out without much cognitive or conscious involvement. However, recent research suggests in certain situations cognitive processes combine with automatic processes to modify specific aspects of balance. Despite this evidence, the precise role of cognitive involvement in the control of balance and the factors that contribute to this involvement in balance are not well understood. As fear of falling is common in older adults and individuals with balance problems, it is important to understand the role of fear as a contributor to balance impairment in these populations. An older adult with a fear of falling may think more about their balance, and subsequently, alter their behaviour. Thus, it is possible that the balance changes observed in fearful individuals might be explained through changes in the conscious or cognitive involvement in the control of balance. However, little is known as to whether conscious control of balance generates changes that are beneficial or detrimental to balance. In challenging task or environmental situations with high information processing demands (e.g., performing a motor or cognitive task while balancing), the automaticity associated with specific aspects of balance may be critical. If fear of falling generates a shift to a more conscious control of balance, this may lead to compromised performance in these demanding situations. This research will assist in contributing to the idea that increased anxiety or fear is associated with a shift to more cognitive or conscious involvement in the control of balance which is associated with changes in balance control. This work will provide insight into the interplay between the different neural mechanisms, such as the emotional, cognitive, and sensory-motor systems, involved in balance control. This understanding is particularly necessary to provide direction for novel approaches for the prevention and treatment of falls.