Blindfolded hypogravity adaptation differentially affects motor and cognitive systems

Introduction: Motor adaptation is essential for human movement and is strongly influenced by visual feedback as evidenced by motor and cognitive aftereffects following visuomotor adaptation. In some cases, these aftereffects are also transferred to related motor or cognitive tasks. When vision is lost or disrupted, motor adaptation must be accomplished by other sensory modalities, such as proprioception, but the degree of transfer following such adaptation is unclear. The aim of the current study was to determine the necessity of vision for motor adaptation and subsequent transfer to a cognitive task. Methods: We leveraged a previously developed paradigm for studying motor and cognitive aftereffects due to adaptation to jumping in simulated hypogravity. We tested 15 participants' jump performance in 1 g, along with their performance on a gravity-based cognitive task, before and after they performed targeted jumps in simulated hypogravity. Crucially, participants were blindfolded during all jumps, relying on provided audio cues and proprioception instead of visual feedback. Results: Despite the lack of vision, we observed the hallmarks of hypogravity motor adaptation-muscle preactivation was reduced and jump height was reduced after returning to normal gravity. However, no aftereffects were observed in the cognitive task. Discussion: Therefore, it appears that vision is not necessary for successful adaptation to simulated hypogravity, but vision may be necessary for the subsequent transfer of aftereffects to the cognitive task.