Metastable postural coordination dynamics

- Metastable center-of-mass and head coordination was found in the majority of trials.
- A bifurcation from bi-metastability to mono-metastability occurred.
- Task difficulty appeared to act as a control parameter.

The present study examined the coordination dynamics of the head and center of mass (COM) using accelerometry in quiet 1 and 2 leg stance with and without vision. The root mean square jerk of effectors was greater in 1 leg stance and without vision, and was greater for the head in 2 leg stance and greater at the COM for 1 leg stance. The coordination of the COM and head was more variable in 1 leg stance with vision than in the other stance and vision combinations. Both grouped and individual participant data showed metastable coordination dynamics with the presence of ghost attractors on both axes of motion that varied with the task. The findings indicated that stance and visual information conditions acted as control parameters, with increments in task difficulty increasing relative phase variability until a bifurcation in the metastable dynamics occurred in 1 leg stance without vision.