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. 2017 Apr 10;11:170. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00170

Table 5.

Brain activity due to mechanical challenges to dynamic balance control.

Name, year Balance challenge TM or OG Modality Mobile Spatial information Brain activity
Beurskens et al., 2016 ST vs. DT: Motor or cognitive interference TM PWS EEG Yes FCz Alpha band activity decreased during motor DT vs. ST
FPz, Fz Beta increased during motor vs. cognitive DT
Bradford et al., 2015 TM walking at specified levels of incline TM Fixed EEG No Sensorimotor, posterior parietal, ACC clusters Higher theta power fluctuations across gait cycle in inclined walking conditions
Lt. sensorimotor, ACC clusters Greater gamma power during level walking
Lt. and rt. sensorimotor cluster Distinct alpha and beta fluctuations dependent on gait cycle for both walking conditions
Bruijn et al., 2015 Laterally stabilized while TM walking TM Fixed EEG No Bilateral premotor cortices Higher beta power during stabilized walking in left premotor area specifically around push-off
Bulea et al., 2015 Steady state walking using an active or a passive TM TM: Fixed vs. feedback driven EEG Yes PFC and posterior parietal cortex Low gamma band power increased during double support and early swing phases in active TM
Sensorimotor cortex Mu and beta band desynchronization during walking cycle
Clark et al., 2014b Carrying tray, obstacles, and weighted vest tasks while walking in older adults OG fNIRS No PFC Increased activation in walking phase
Haefeli et al., 2011 Obstacle navigation in dim lighting with audio cue to signal upcoming obstacle TM Fixed EEG No Oribital gyrus (BA 11) and medial frontal gyrus (BA 10) Activation in preparation phase prior to stepping over obstacle
Superior frontal gyrus (BA 9) Activation in performance phase
Jaeger et al., 2016 External load applied during stepping movements Stepping fMRI No SMA-proper (BA4a), superior occipital gyrus (BA 18) Activation in 0 load condition
Vermis, S1/M1 (left BA 6), Thalamus Activation in 20 load condition
Insula, vermis, middle occipital gyrus, precuneus S2, thalamus, sup occ. gyrus Activation in 40 load condition
Kurz et al., 2012 Forward vs. backward walking on TM TM Fixed fNIRS No SMA, pre-central gyrus, sup. parietal lobule Increased activation in backward walking
Pre-central gyrus and SMA Maximal activation correlated with stride-time intervals in forward walking
Lin and Lin, 2016 Overground walking with wide, narrow, or obstacle path with and without n-back task OG fNIRS No PFC Increased activation at beginning of task
Lu et al., 2015 Please refer to Table 6
Maidan et al., 2015 Walking patterns known to cause FoG in PD patients with FoG and healthy controls OG fNIRS No Frontal activation (BA 10) Decreased activation during turns without FoG episode in PD group
Increased activation during anticipated turns before and during FoG episode
No changes in activation in controls
Presacco et al., 2011 Real time visual feedback of lower limbs provided in order to avoid stepping on diagonal stripe on TM belt TM PWS EEG No Full scalp analysis Higher delta, theta, and low beta spectral power during walking vs. rest
Prefrontal, central, posterior-occipital, right, and left hemisphere regions of interest Fluctuations in amplitude in EEG signals in low delta frequency band can predict gait kinematics
Presacco et al., 2012 Real time visual feedback of lower limbs provided in order to avoid stepping on diagonal stripe on TM belt TM PWS EEG No Pre-frontal, motor, parietal, and occipital areas Standardized voltage level fluctuations over time can predict gait kinematics
Sipp et al., 2013 Heel-to-toe walking on a TM-mounted balance beam TM Fixed EEG No ACC, anterior parietal, superior DLPFC, medial sensorimotor cortex Larger mean theta power during walking on balance beam vs. TM
Lt. and rt. sensorimotor cortex clusters Lower beta power during walking on balance beam vs. TM
Lt. sensorimotor cortex Visible indication on spectrogram when falling off beam
Varghese et al., 2016 APA for lateral weight shift or stepping task with/without preloading weight to the stance leg Stepping EEG No Mid fronto-central electrodes Increase in amplitude of movement related potentials prior to initiation of postural adjustment
Movement related potentials associated with APA onset
ERD of mu and beta bands associated with APA onset

TM, treadmill; OG, overground; PW, preferred walking speed; ST, single task; DT, dual task; APA, anticipatory postural adjustment; PD, Parkinson's Disease; FoG, freezing of gait; BA, Brodmann Area; lt., left; rt., right; bi. lat., bilateral; PFC, prefrontal cortex; DLPFC, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; ACC, anterior cingulate cortex; SMA, supplementary motor area; ERD, event related desynchronization.