Cognitive influences on sensory integration in postural control: A talk by Dr. Mark S. Redfern

The OBDAF Cluster is happy to announce an upcoming research presentation at UBC next week by Prof. Mark Redfern (Kepler Whiteford Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh)

Certain cognitive processes, such as attention, have been shown to influence postural control, particularly in older adults.   Interference between balance and cognitive task performance has been demonstrated in dual-task paradigms in which postural challenges are combined with a concurrent information processing task. Older adults are particularly affected, and measures of interference have been associated with instability and falls.  Recently, other aspects of cognition, such as executive functions, cognitive processing speed, and visuospatial abilities, also have been implicated in postural control, particularly for older adults.  The focus of this presentation will be on the role of cognition in a particular aspect of postural control; namely, sensory integration.  Sensory integration refers to the process of interpreting sensory information (somatosensation, vison, vestibular) about position and movement to maintain balance.  I will present past work on the role of attention during standing under conditions that challenge the sensory integration.  I will then present our recent work investigating other aspects of cognition and their associations with standing balance performance while challenging sensory integration.  

Mark S. Redfern is the Kepler Whiteford Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh, with secondary appointments in the School of Medicine (Otolaryngology) and the School of Health and Rehabilitation Science (Physical Therapy).  He received a PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Michigan in 1988 in the area of biomechanics of movement. Dr. Redfern's current research focuses mainly on human postural control, the influence of aging on balance, and the prevention of falls through design. He has over 150 peer review publications and 20 book chapters.