National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR)
Robert Peterka, Ph.D.
E-mail: Robert.Peterka@va.gov
Phone: 503-220-8262 ext. 56030
Current Appointments
- Research Investigator, NCRAR
- Associate Professor, Dept. Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University
Research Interests
- Characterization of sensory integration mechanisms involved in combining information from vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive sensory systems for the control of body orientation during stance and gait.
- Identification of mechanisms contributing to the control of dynamic balance during gait.
- Exploring the impacts of age and mild traumatic brain injury on balance control.
- Applying engineering system identification methods and mathematical modeling to interpret experimental results related to human balance control.
- Developing aids to improve balance during stance and gait.
Current Research Projects
“Balance control mechanisms, age-related changes and methods for improvement of balance during gait.”
Principal Investigator: Robert Peterka, PhD
VA RR&D Merit Award 2016-2020.
“Assessment and rehabilitation of central sensory impairments for balance in mTBI”
Principal Investigator: Laurie King, PhD
Dept. of the Army - USAMRAA, 2016-2020.
"Vestibular contribution to the control of human upright stance"
Principal Investigator: Robert Peterka, PhD
Co-Investigator: Adam Goodworth, PhD
National Institutes of Health, NIDCD, R01 2011-2016.
Selected Publications
Assländer L, Peterka RJ. Sensory reweighting dynamics following removal and addition of visual and proprioceptive cues. Journal of Neurophysiology, (in press 2016).
Assländer L, Peterka RJ. Sensory reweighting dynamics in human postural control. Journal of Neurophysiology, 111:525-542, 2014.
Goodworth AD, Mellodge P, Peterka RJ. Stance width changes how sensory feedback is used for multi-segmental balance control. Journal of Neurophysiology. 112:525-542, 2014.
Peterka RJ. Use of galvanic vestibular feedback for a balance prosthesis. Proceedings of the 34rd International IEEE EMBS Conference, pp 6137-6140, 2012.
Goodworth AD, Peterka RJ. Sensorimotor integration for multi-segmental frontal plane balance control in humans. Journal of Neurophysiology, 107:12-28, 2012.
van der Kooij H, Peterka RJ. Non-linear stimulus-response behavior of the human stance control system is predicted by optimization of a system with sensory and motor noise. Journal of Computational Neuroscience, 30:759-778, 2011.
Peterka RJ, Statler KD, Wrisley DM, Horak, FB. Postural compensation for unilateral vestibular loss. Frontiers Neurology 2:57 Epub Sep 6 2011.
Goodworth AD, Peterka RJ. Influence of stance width on frontal plane postural dynamics and coordination in human balance control. Journal of Neurophysiology, 104:1103-1118, 2010.
Goodworth AD, Peterka RJ. Influence of bilateral vestibular loss on spinal stabilization in humans. Journal of Neurophysiology, 103:1978-1987, 2010.
Goodworth AD, Peterka RJ. Contribution of sensorimotor integration to spinal stabilization in humans. Journal of Neurophysiology, 102:496-512, 2009.
Goodworth AD, Wall III, C, Peterka RJ. Influence of feedback parameters on performance of a vibrotactile balance prosthesis. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng, 17:397-408, 2009.
Peterka RJ. Comparison of human and humanoid robot control of upright stance. Journal of Physiology (Paris), 103:149-158, 2009.
Gianna-Poulin CC, Peterka, RJ. Use of a visual guide to improve the quality of VOR responses evoked by high-velocity rotational stimuli. Journal of Vestibular Research: Equilibrium and Orientation, 18(1):15-24, 2008.
Gianna-Poulin CC, Peterka, RJ. Interaction between otolith organ and semicircular canal vestibulo-ocular reflexes during eccentric rotation in humans. Experimental Brain Research, 185(3):485-495, 2008.
Kluzik J, Horak, FB, Peterka RJ. Postural after-effects of stepping on an inclined surface. Neuroscience Letters, 413(2):93-98, 2007.
Kluzik J, Peterka RJ, Horak FB. Adaptation of postural orientation to changes in surface inclination. Experimental Brain Research, 178(1):1-17, 2007.
Peterka RJ, Wall III, C, Kentala E. Determining the effectiveness of a vibrotactile balance prosthesis. Journal of Vestibular Research: Equilibrium and Orientation, 16(1-2):45-56, 2006.
Cenciarini M, Peterka RJ. Stimulus-dependent changes in the vestibular contribution to human postural control. Journal of Neurophysiology, 95(5):2733-2750, 2006.
Maurer C, Mergner T, Peterka RJ. Multisensory control of human upright stance. Experimental Brain Research, 171(2):231-250, 2006.
Peterka RJ. Pulse-step-sine rotation test for the identification of abnormal vestibular function. Journal of Vestibular Research: Equilibrium and Orientation, 15(5-6):291-311, 2005.
Maurer C, Peterka RJ. A new interpretation of spontaneous sway measures based on a simple model of human postural control. Journal of Neurophysiology, 93(1):189-200, 2005.
Peterka RJ, Gianna-Poulin CC, Zupan LH, Merfeld DM. Origin of orientation-dependent asymmetries in vestibulo-ocular reflexes evoked by caloric stimulation. Journal of Neurophysiology, 92(4):2333-2345, 2004.
Peterka RJ, Loughlin PJ. Dynamic Regulation of Sensorimotor Integration in Human Postural Control. Journal of Neurophysiology, 91(1):410-423, 2004.
Peterka RJ. Simplifying the Complexities of Maintaining Balance. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine, 22(2):63-68, 2003.
Peterka RJ. Sensorimotor integration in human postural control. Journal of Neurophysiology, 88(3):1097-1118, 2002.
Zupan LH, Peterka RJ, Merfeld DM. Neural processing of gravito-inertial cues in humans: I. Influence of the semicircular canals following post-rotatory tilt. Journal of Neurophysiology, 84(4):2001-2015, 2000.
Peterka RJ. Postural control model interpretation of stabilogram diffusion analysis. Biological Cybernetics, 82(4):335-343, 2000.
Merfeld DM, Zupan L, Peterka RJ. Humans use internal models to estimate gravity and linear acceleration. Nature, 398(6728):615-618, 1999.
Peterka RJ, Benolken MS. Role of somatosensory and vestibular cues in attenuating visually induced human postural sway. Experimental Brain Research, 105(1):101-110, 1995.
Peterka RJ, Black FO, Schoenhoff MB. Age-related changes in human vestibulo-ocular reflexes: sinusoidal rotation and caloric tests. Journal of Vestibular Research, 1(1):49-59, 1990.
Peterka RJ, Black FO, Schoenhoff MB. Age-related changes in human vestibulo-ocular and optokinetic reflexes: Pseudorandom rotation tests. Journal of Vestibular Research, 1(1):61-71, 1990.
Peterka RJ, Black FO. Age-related changes in human posture control: Sensory organization tests. Journal of Vestibular Research, 1(1):73-85, 1990.
Peterka RJ, Black FO. Age-related changes in human posture control: Motor coordination tests. Journal of Vestibular Research, 1(1):87-96, 1990.
