Postural control and sensory gating: neurophysiological insights from healthy and neurological subjects
File(s)
Author(s)
Ciocca, Matteo
Type
Thesis
Abstract
The control of balance and posture involves a system spanning the neural axis, with structures working together to maintain vertical support against gravity and keep the centre of mass within the support base. The nervous system achieves these goals by integrating sensory feedback with motor commands to secure an appropriate postural control.
Preconscious processing of sensory information flow to the brain, known as sensory gating, is a fundamental mechanism that facilitates uninterrupted processing of sensory inputs by filtering out subsequent reflex-eliciting inputs.
Interestingly, there is an overlap between the functional neuroanatomical networks of postural control and sensory gating. Key structures for postural control, such as the pedunculopontine nucleus, also play significant roles in sensory gating. Dopamine and acetylcholine, crucial in both networks, exhibit clinically relevant effects on postural control in Parkinson’s disease.
This thesis describes a series of studies involving both healthy subjects and patients with basal ganglia involvement. My primary hypothesis is that it is possible to infer information about the activity of the human postural control network by examining the functionality of the sensorimotor gating network using a neurophysiological paradigm, specifically prepulse inhibition.
To support this hypothesis, I designed a series of studies with the following aims:
1) To demonstrate the integration of vestibular inputs into the sensory gating network, further strengthening the connection between this network and the postural control system.
2) To establish prepulse inhibition as a neurophysiological marker for postural control.
3) To investigate the impact of enhancing dopaminergic and cholinergic activity in the
brain on prepulse inhibition and postural control in healthy participants.
4) To demonstrate selective alterations in prepulse inhibition and postural control in patients with basal ganglia disorders.
Finally, these findings hold implications for future research, particularly in studies aiming to enhance postural control by increasing somatosensory and vestibular sensory feedback.
Preconscious processing of sensory information flow to the brain, known as sensory gating, is a fundamental mechanism that facilitates uninterrupted processing of sensory inputs by filtering out subsequent reflex-eliciting inputs.
Interestingly, there is an overlap between the functional neuroanatomical networks of postural control and sensory gating. Key structures for postural control, such as the pedunculopontine nucleus, also play significant roles in sensory gating. Dopamine and acetylcholine, crucial in both networks, exhibit clinically relevant effects on postural control in Parkinson’s disease.
This thesis describes a series of studies involving both healthy subjects and patients with basal ganglia involvement. My primary hypothesis is that it is possible to infer information about the activity of the human postural control network by examining the functionality of the sensorimotor gating network using a neurophysiological paradigm, specifically prepulse inhibition.
To support this hypothesis, I designed a series of studies with the following aims:
1) To demonstrate the integration of vestibular inputs into the sensory gating network, further strengthening the connection between this network and the postural control system.
2) To establish prepulse inhibition as a neurophysiological marker for postural control.
3) To investigate the impact of enhancing dopaminergic and cholinergic activity in the
brain on prepulse inhibition and postural control in healthy participants.
4) To demonstrate selective alterations in prepulse inhibition and postural control in patients with basal ganglia disorders.
Finally, these findings hold implications for future research, particularly in studies aiming to enhance postural control by increasing somatosensory and vestibular sensory feedback.
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
2024-11-29
Date Awarded
01/11/2025
License URL
Advisor
Tai, Yen
Seemungal, Barry
Malhotra, Paresh
Publisher Department
Department of Brain Sciences
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)