Neuromotor and electrocortical activity characteristics of dynamic postural control
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- John Matthew Palazzolo (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Derek Monroe
Abstract: Subconcussive impacts to the head have become a growing area of research and concern in the athletic setting. While knowledge on the short- and long-term consequences of concussions has been identified, there is relatively less research on the effects of repetitive subconcussive impacts. Research has shown that neuromotor deficits (i.e., dynamic balance) can be detected acutely after repeatedly heading a soccer ball (a laboratory-based way to induce subconcussive head impacts), but this has typically been done with expensive and non-portable laboratory equipment. However, the AccWalker smartphone application may allow for an objective cost-effective test to examine the effective of repetitive subconcussive exposure. Nonetheless, while cost-effective and portable (e.g., a smartphone app), there is a need for examination of its reliability. Moreover, the extent to which cortical activity is related to dynamic balance control is not well understood. If an association between cortical activity is observed, an increase or decrease in the strength of the association after repeated subconcussive head impacts could be used as an indicator of nervous system impact. These gaps in the literature will be addressed through three specific aims in this dissertation 1) to investigate the reliability of the AccWalker app as a test for neuromotor performance before and after light athletic activity (e.g., kicking a soccer ball); 2) compare EEG spectral power characteristics of dynamic balance across three different AccWalker conditions, and 3) to examine correlations between EEG spectral power characteristics and temporal and spatial kinematic data during a stepping in place task (mTBI Assessment of Readiness Gait Evaluation Test (TARGET)). It was hypothesized that, 1) temporal and spatial characteristics of dynamic balance will not significantly change between pre- and post-soccer kicking activity, 2) EEG power spectral density (PSD) within the delta and theta frequency bands will increase across the three AccWalker conditions, and 3) EEG PSD within the delta and theta frequency bands will correlate with the temporal and spatial kinematic variables measured using the AccWalker TARGET protocol. Twenty-four participants were enrolled in this study. Aim 1 used a pre-test/post-test design. Both pre- and post-testing included using the TARGET protocol before and after kicking ten soccer balls. The findings for aim 1 indicated that that the AccWalker TARGET protocol displayed good test-retest reliability with similar data characteristics to previous work. Aim 2 results revealed that EEG PSD measures increased compared to the resting condition. Finally, for aim 3, several significant correlations between the AccWalker spatial metrics within the Delta and Theta frequencies were found. These findings suggest that postural control assessment can be measured reliably in a pre- to post-test design. This may be important as the AccWalker TARGET protocol may offer a reliable test for changes in neuromotor performance and the body’s ability to adapt to “real-life” (or more dynamic) situations. Additionally, this study has expanded on previous literature indicating increased involvement of the frontal-central and central regions of the brain during perturbed balance. Further, this study expands upon the simultaneous use of EEG and balance assessment; specifically, as it is the first study to use a truly dynamic balance task along with a 32-electrode mobile EEG system. This may be important for continued study of not only unaffected balance, but that study of neural changes due to injury or pathological processes.
Neuromotor and electrocortical activity characteristics of dynamic postural control
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Created on 8/1/2023
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Dissertation
- Language: English
- Date: 2023
- Keywords
- Balance, Dynamic, EEG, Neuromotor, Postural Control, Subconcussive
- Subjects
- Brain $x Wounds and injuries
- Equilibrium (Physiology) $x Testing
- Electroencephalography
- Mobile apps