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Brain on Wheels: Uncovering the Sensorimotor Control of Cycling
Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Raymond Reynolds
University of Registration: University of Birmingham
BBSRC Research Themes:
Project Outline
Cycling is a common and highly practised human skill, yet surprisingly little is known about how the nervous system controls balance and steering during cycling. Unlike standing or walking, bicycle balance is closely linked to steering, and cyclists often need to maintain sufficient speed to remain stable. These unusual demands make cycling a useful model for studying how the brain controls complex, unstable movements.
The aim of this PhD is to determine how sensory information is used to maintain balance and guide steering during cycling. The project will focus particularly on visual information and signals from the vestibular system, which provides information about head movement and orientation. It will examine how these sensory signals influence steering corrections, body movements and muscle activity, and whether their contribution changes with cycling speed and task demands.
Experiments will use an interactive indoor cycling platform that allows participants to steer and move laterally while remaining in a controlled laboratory environment. Visual information will be manipulated using changes to the projected visual scene, while vestibular signals will be manipulated using galvanic vestibular stimulation, a safe method for temporarily altering balance-related sensory information. Participants' steering behaviour, whole-body movement and muscle activity will be recorded using motion capture and electromyography.
The findings will identify the sensory and movement strategies that support stable cycling and determine how cycling balance differs from better understood forms of balance control such as standing and walking. The project will contribute to a more general understanding of human sensorimotor control and may provide a foundation for future applications in rehabilitation, neurological assessment and cycling safety.
