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Social and Behavioral Sciences

Selected Works

Dr Paul J Stapley

Selected Works

2013

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The Pontomedullary Reticular Formation Contributes To The Compensatory Postural Responses Observed Following Removal Of The Support Surface In The Standing Cat, Paul Stapley, Trevor Drew Jan 2013

The Pontomedullary Reticular Formation Contributes To The Compensatory Postural Responses Observed Following Removal Of The Support Surface In The Standing Cat, Paul Stapley, Trevor Drew

Dr Paul J Stapley

This study was designed to determine the contribution of reticular neurons in the pontomedullary reticular formation (PMRF) to the postural responses produced to compensate for an unexpected perturbation. We recorded the activity of 48 neurons in the PMRF, including 41 reticulospinal neurons, to removal of the support surface under each of the four limbs in four cats. The perturbations produced robust postural responses that were divided into three periods: an initial postural response (P1) that displaced the center of vertical pressure over the two diagonal supporting limbs; a secondary response (P2) during which the cat restored a tripedal support pattern; …


Bilateral Vestibular Loss Leads To Active Destabilization Of Balance During Voluntary Head Turns In The Standing Cat, Paul Stapley, Lena Ting, Chen Kuifu, Dirk Everaert, Jane Macpherson Jan 2013

Bilateral Vestibular Loss Leads To Active Destabilization Of Balance During Voluntary Head Turns In The Standing Cat, Paul Stapley, Lena Ting, Chen Kuifu, Dirk Everaert, Jane Macpherson

Dr Paul J Stapley

The purpose of this study was to determine the source of postural instability in labyrinthectomized cats during lateral head turns. Cats were trained to maintain the head in a forward orientation and then perform a rapid, large-amplitude head turn to left or right in yaw, while standing freely on a force platform. Head turns were biomechanically complex with the primary movement in the yaw plane accompanied by an ipsilateral ear-down roll and nose-down pitch. Cats used a strategy of pushing off by activating extensors of the contralateral forelimb while using all four limbs to produce a rotational moment of force …