Brain signals during quick steps: understanding reactive gait and falls
Official title: Electrocortical Brain Dynamics of Reactive Gait Adjustment Biomechanics
Funded at Western Kentucky University · NIH-11423996 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Western Kentucky University will look at how brain activity relates to fast, reactive walking and balance to help prevent falls in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Western Kentucky University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bowling Green, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $148,790 |
| NIH project number | 1R16AR088607-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11423996 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are healthy adults able to participate in treadmill-like walking tasks and tolerate mobile EEG.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals unable to participate in rapid gait tasks or with contraindications to EEG would not benefit.
What this research studies
Healthy young adults will jog and perform sidestep maneuvers while wearing high-density mobile EEG to study the brain patterns that occur when people must react quickly to a visual cue. The research aims to build a mechanistic model of brain dynamics during reactive gait and identify EEG biomarkers linked to changes in walking biomechanics. Findings could inform strategies to reduce fall risk by better understanding how the brain coordinates rapid lower-limb movements under cognitive load.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to biomarkers and tools to prevent falls in at-risk populations by guiding personalized prevention and rehabilitation approaches.
How similar studies have gone: Past research has linked brain activity to gait control, with this study aiming to deepen understanding of reactive (not just planned) gait adjustments.
Where this research is happening
-
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ledwidge, Patrick Stewart — Western Kentucky University
- Study coordinator: Ledwidge, Patrick Stewart
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.