'Body swap' robot shows how balance slowly declines with age

Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have developed a life-sized "body swap" robotic platform to study how the brain maintains balance and why balance deteriorates with age. The robot simulates delayed neural feedback by introducing a short delay (about 200 milliseconds) between a participant’s movement and the physical response of their body, mimicking the slower sensory feedback seen in aging or neurological conditions. This delay causes instability and increased sway, helping researchers understand the mechanisms behind the increased fall risk in older adults. The robotic system also manipulates physical forces such as inertia and viscosity to alter how the body feels during standing. In experiments, participants experienced similar instability from delayed feedback and changes in body mechanics, indicating the brain treats sensory delays similarly to mechanical changes. Remarkably, increasing inertia and viscosity helped counteract the instability caused by delayed feedback, reducing sway by up to 80%. These findings suggest that mechanical aids could support balance in aging populations by compensating for slower neural signals. The research offers