The Effects of Virtual Reality-induced Postural Threat on Performance of a Walking Balance Task
Year: 2019
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Rapid motor learning may occur in situations where individuals perceive a threat of injury if they do not perform a task well. This may be facilitated by improved motor performance and consequently, more errorless practice. The purpose of this study is to determine if performance of a motor task improves in situations where perceived threat of injury is high. I hypothesized that perceived threat of injury in a virtual environment will result in improved performance of a walking balance task. The addition of perceived threat of injury yielded slightly greater, but not statistically significant, balance performance in virtual environments. These results may be partially attributed to habituation to threat over time and practice. A more robust threat manipulation may reveal greater differences in motor performance between high- and low-threat conditions. If implemented carefully, virtual reality technology can be an effective tool for investigating walking balance in environments perceived as threatening.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Amir Boroomand-Tehrani
Language: English
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3010521152