抄録
A correlation between anxiety and postural instability is suspected in anxious patients. However, the results of preceding studies exploring the correlation between anxiety and postural balance in healthy populations are controversial. We have employed FFT analysis of body sway during orthostatic standing while gazing at a visual target in college students, physically and mentally healthy. The influence of anxiety was found in frequency components of 0.02-0.21 Hz and 2.02-10.0 Hz. Frequency components of 0.02-0.21 Hz, reflecting vestibular inputs, were 16% greater and those of 2.02-10.0 Hz, reflecting somatosensory inputs, were 24% smaller in high anxiety group. The influence of anxiety was abolished when the eyes were closed. We have further explored the correlation between anxiety and the postural control in healthy college students employing a within-subject design. Body sway during orthostatic standing and state anxiety on the day of experiment were measured twice with an interval of 1 month. Results have shown that the length of antero-posterior bodyy sway and the enveloped area of body sway are positively correlated with anxiety. These correlations were not observed when the eyes were closed. Our studies have been concluded that anxiety affects the information processing of sensory inputs essential for the postural control and causes an instability of the standing posture. [J Physiol Sci. 2007;57 Suppl:S190]
