The effect of verticality perception on body balance in normal subjects.

The relation between verticality perception and body balance as influenced by perceptual style, age, and sex was investigated in 100 subjects. Perceptual style was measured by the Rod and Frame Test. Body balance data were obtained by two electromechanical force plates. The results of the measurements of perceptual style indicated that the younger groups were more accurate in estimating verticality than the older groups and that men were more accurate than women. With regard to the body balance shift data, however, no significant differences relative to age, sex, or perceptual style were found. The rejection of the hypothesis concerning body balance shift was interpreted in terms of the dominant influence of proprioceptive cues over visual cues in maintaining body balance. In normal standing activities, as long as the neuromuscular system is intact, conflicting stimuli from the visual field appear to have little effect on modifying body balance.