Modeling Attention and Sensory Integration in Postural Control of Older Adults

We conducted an experiment, similar to those in (Peterka 2002) but augmented to include information processing (IP) tasks, to explore this question. Data were fit to a postural control model (Peterka 2002; Peterka and Loughlin 2004). We explicitly added “attention” to the model and its influence on sensory integration via the sensory weight and time delay parameters of the model (Fig. 1). This model hypothesizes that the cognitive processing and integration of sensory inputs for balance requires time, and that attention influences this processing time, as well as sensory selection by facilitating specific sensory channels. A competing IP dual-task would compete for cognitive resources and thus increase the delay time in the model if the capacity for this processing is limited, i.e. subject to attention. We explored model response differences between young and older adults.