37 research outputs found

    Investigating the vertical extent and short-wave radiative effects of the ice phase in Arctic summertime low-level clouds

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    Low-level (cloud tops below 2 km) mixed-phase clouds are important in amplifying warming in the Arctic region through positive feedback in cloud fraction, water content and phase. In order to understand the cloud feedbacks in the Arctic region, good knowledge of the vertical distribution of the cloud water content, particle size and phase is required. Here we investigate the vertical extent of the cloud-phase and ice-phase optical properties in six case studies measured in the European Arctic during the ACLOUD campaign. Late spring- and summertime stratiform clouds were sampled in situ over pack ice, marginal sea ice zone and open-ocean surface, with cloud top temperatures varying between −15 and −1.5 ∘C. The results show that, although the liquid phase dominates the upper parts of the clouds, the ice phase was frequently observed in the lower parts down to cloud top temperatures as warm as −3.8 ∘C. In the studied vertical cloud profiles, the maximum of average liquid phase microphysical properties, droplet number concentration, effective radius and liquid water content, varied between 23 and 152 cm−3, 19 and 26 ”m, 0.09 and 0.63 g m−3, respectively. The maximum of average ice-phase microphysical properties varied between 0.1 and 57 L−1 for the ice number concentration, 40 and 70 ”m for the effective radius, and 0.005 and 0.08 g m−3 for the ice water content. The elevated ice crystal number concentrations and ice water paths observed for clouds, with cloud top temperatures between −3.8 and −8.7 ∘C can be likely attributed to secondary ice production through rime splintering. Low asymmetry parameters between 0.69 and 0.76 were measured for the mixed-phase ice crystals with a mean value of 0.72. The effect of the ice-phase optical properties on the radiative transfer calculations was investigated for the four cloud cases potentially affected by secondary ice production. Generally the choice of ice-phase optical properties only has a minor effect on the cloud transmissivity and albedo, except in a case where the ice phase dominated the upper cloud layer extinction. In this case, cloud albedo at solar wavelengths was increased by 10 % when the ice phase was given its measured optical properties instead of treating it as liquid phase. The presented results highlight the importance of accurate vertical information on cloud phase for radiative transfer and provide a suitable data set for testing microphysical parameterizations in models

    Airborne investigation of black carbon interaction with low-level, persistent, mixed-phase clouds in the Arctic summer

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    Aerosol–cloud interaction is considered one of the largest sources of uncertainty in radiative forcing estimations. To better understand the role of black carbon (BC) aerosol as a cloud nucleus and the impact of clouds on its vertical distribution in the Arctic, we report airborne in situ measurements of BC particles in the European Arctic near Svalbard during the “Arctic CLoud Observations Using airborne measurements during polar Day” (ACLOUD) campaign held in the summer of 2017. BC was measured with a single-particle soot photometer aboard the Polar 6 research aircraft from the lowest atmospheric layer up to approximately 3500 m a.s.l (metres above sea level). During in-cloud flight transects, BC particles contained in liquid droplets (BC residuals) were sampled through a counterflow virtual impactor (CVI) inlet. Four flights, conducted in the presence of low-level, surface-coupled, inside-inversion, and mixed-phase clouds over sea ice, were selected to address the variability in BC above, below, and within the cloud layer. First, the increase in size and coating thickness of BC particles from the free troposphere to the cloud-dominated boundary layer confirmed that ground observations were not representative of upper atmospheric layers. Second, although only 1 % of liquid droplets contained a BC particle, the higher number concentration of BC residuals than BC particles sampled below cloud indicated that the totality of below-cloud BC was activated by nucleation scavenging but also that alternative scavenging processes such as the activation of free-tropospheric BC at the cloud top might occur. Third, the efficient exchange of aerosol particles at cloud bottom was confirmed by the similarity of the size distribution of BC residuals and BC particles sampled below cloud. Last, the increase in the BC residual number concentration (+31 %) and geometric mean diameter (+38 %) from the cloud top to the cloud bottom and the absolute enrichment in larger BC residuals compared with outside of the cloud supported the hypothesis of concomitant scavenging mechanisms but also suggested the formation of BC agglomerates caused by cloud processing. The vertical evolution of BC properties from inside the cloud and below the cloud indicated an efficient aerosol exchange at cloud bottom, which might include activation, cloud processing, and sub-cloud release of processed BC agglomerates. In the case of persistent low-level Arctic clouds, this cycle may reiterate multiple times, adding an additional degree of complexity to the understanding of cloud processing of BC particles in the Arctic

    Cross-Linguistic Variation in the Meaning of Quantifiers: Implications for Pragmatic Enrichment

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    One of the most studied scales in the literature on scalar implicatures is the quantifier scale. While the truth of some is entailed by the truth of all, some is felicitous only when all is false. This opens the possibility that some would be felicitous if, e.g., almost all of the objects in the restriction of the quantifier have the property ascribed by the nuclear scope. This prediction from the standard theory of quantifier interpretation clashes with native speakers’ intuitions. In Experiment 1 we report a questionnaire study on the perception of quantifier meanings in English, French, Slovenian, and German which points to a cross-linguistic variation with respect to the perception of numerical bounds of the existential quantifier. In Experiment 2, using a picture choice task, we further examine whether the numerical bound differences correlate with differences in pragmatic interpretations of the quantifier some in English and quelques in French and interpret the results as supporting our hypothesis that some and its cross-linguistic counterparts are subjected to different processes of pragmatic enrichment

    A comprehensive in situ and remote sensing data set from the Arctic CLoud Observations Using airborne measurements during polar Day (ACLOUD) campaign

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    The Arctic CLoud Observations Using airborne measurements during polar Day (ACLOUD) cam- paign was carried out north-west of Svalbard (Norway) between 23 May and 6 June 2017. The objective of ACLOUD was to study Arctic boundary layer and mid-level clouds and their role in Arctic amplification. Two research aircraft (Polar 5 and 6) jointly performed 22 research flights over the transition zone between open ocean and closed sea ice. Both aircraft were equipped with identical instrumentation for measurements of basic meteorological parameters, as well as for turbulent and radiative energy fluxes. In addition, on Polar 5 active and passive remote sensing instruments were installed, while Polar 6 operated in situ instruments to characterize cloud and aerosol particles as well as trace gases. A detailed overview of the specifications, data processing, and data quality is provided here. It is shown that the scientific analysis of the ACLOUD data benefits from the coordinated operation of both aircraft. By combining the cloud remote sensing techniques operated on Polar 5, the synergy of multi-instrument cloud retrieval is illustrated. The remote sensing methods were validated us- ing truly collocated in situ and remote sensing observations. The data of identical instruments operated on both aircraft were merged to extend the spatial coverage of mean atmospheric quantities and turbulent and radiative flux measurement. Therefore, the data set of the ACLOUD campaign provides comprehensive in situ and remote sensing observations characterizing the cloudy Arctic atmosphere. All processed, calibrated, and validated data are published in the World Data Center PANGAEA as instrument-separated data subsets (Ehrlich et al., 2019b, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.902603)

    Virtualia 2016. La réalité virtuelle au service de la recherche: Actes du séminaire organisé par le CIREVE à Caen (19 octobre 2016),

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    International audienceLe sĂ©minaire Virtualia est nĂ© en 2006 en mĂȘme temps que le Centre Interdisciplinaire de RĂ©alitĂ© Virtuelle (CIREVE) de l’UniversitĂ© de Caen Normandie. Son objectif est de permettre aux Ă©quipes associĂ©es au CIREVE d’exposer leurs mĂ©thodologies et les rĂ©sultats de leurs travaux dans le domaine de la RĂ©alitĂ© Virtuelle, tout en s’ouvrant Ă  des communications extĂ©rieures. Il a connu quatre Ă©ditions de 2006 Ă  2009.2016 fut l’occasion de relancer VIRTUALIA et de concrĂ©tiser le partenariat avec les UniversitĂ©s de Rouen et du Havre dans le cadre de la COMUE. Une Structure FĂ©dĂ©rative de Recherche « CIREVE » est en effet en cours de labellisation au sein de Normandie UniversitĂ©. 2016 est Ă©galement une annĂ©e importante car elle marque Ă  la fois le dixiĂšme anniversaire du CIREVE et la finalisation d’une plate-forme de rĂ©alitĂ© virtuelle normande, unique en son genre sur le territoire français. Elle est composĂ©e d’une salle immersive quatre faces de 45 m2, Ă©quipĂ©e d’un tapis roulant particuliĂšrement adaptĂ© pour l’analyse de la marche en temps rĂ©el (GRAIL de Motek Medical). Les calculateurs de cette salle immersive sont mutualisĂ©s avec un amphithĂ©Ăątre attenant de 150 places, de maniĂšre que les expĂ©rimentations effectuĂ©es avec un sujet unique dans la salle immersive puissent ĂȘtre suivies par un auditoire nombreux (besoins de formation notamment). Les Ă©quipes utilisent le matĂ©riel au fur et Ă  mesure des dĂ©veloppements informatiques et de nouveaux protocoles d’expĂ©rimentation germent dans l’esprit des chercheurs qui voient dans la rĂ©alitĂ© virtuelle des possibilitĂ©s de tests jamais atteintes.Une centaine de chercheurs utilise rĂ©guliĂšrement le plateau technique CIREVE, dans des visĂ©es de recherche qui leur sont propres. Il est toutefois apparu qu’un certain nombre de problĂ©matiques concernaient toutes les disciplines et qu’une partie de la rĂ©flexion sur les mondes virtuels pouvait ĂȘtre mutualisĂ©e. Le sĂ©minaire VIRTUALIA permet d’offrir un espace de rencontre Ă  ces chercheurs, issus d’horizons diffĂ©rents, pour discuter de l’utilisation de l’outil d’un point de vue Ă©pistĂ©mologique. Il est par exemple capital de s’interroger sur la notion de prĂ©sence. Le sujet se comporte-il de la mĂȘme façon dans l’environnement virtuel et dans le monde rĂ©el ? Les chemins de circulation choisis dans le modĂšle virtuel sont-ils les mĂȘmes que ceux qui seraient empruntĂ©s en rĂ©alitĂ© ? Les conclusions Ă©tablies dans le modĂšle virtuel sont-elles directement transposables Ă  la rĂ©alitĂ© ? Un des enjeux du travail est d’évaluer la pertinence subjective des modĂšles virtuels, ce qui est capital avant de gĂ©nĂ©raliser leur utilisation dans des actions de formation par exemple. L’utilisation d’une technologie n’est jamais complĂštement neutre. Dans le cadre des mondes virtuels, l’interaction de l’homme avec le monde de synthĂšse n’est possible qu’au travers de logiciels et d’interfaces matĂ©rielles. Il faut s’assurer que les processus cognitifs soient adĂ©quats avant de s’interroger sur le rĂ©sultat des simulations. Naturellement, le sĂ©minaire permet Ă©galement Ă  chaque discipline d’exposer les rĂ©sultats des derniĂšres recherches rĂ©alisĂ©es grĂące Ă  la rĂ©alitĂ© virtuelle.Les domaines scientifiques concernĂ©s par la rĂ©alitĂ© virtuelle sont multiples : les civilisations et les patrimoines culturels, la mĂ©decine, les neurosciences, la psychologie, les sciences du mouvement et du sport, l’ingĂ©nierie, l’informatique. L’UniversitĂ© de Caen Normandie Ă©tant pluridisciplinaire, le spectre des utilisations est trĂšs large. Elles se rĂ©partissent en trois axes principaux et un axe en Ă©mergence :LA REPRÉSENTATION : la rĂ©alitĂ© virtuelle permet de reprĂ©senter et de visualiser, interactivement et en trois dimensions, des environnements disparus, dĂ©gradĂ©s, inaccessibles, ou des environnements futurs.Domaines concernĂ©s : civilisations, patrimoine, linguistique...L'EXPÉRIMENTATION : en permettant d'interagir en temps rĂ©el avec un monde numĂ©rique 3D, la rĂ©alitĂ© virtuelle offre de nouvelles perspectives d'expĂ©rimentations dans des environnements de plus en plus proches du rĂ©el et en mĂȘme temps parfaitement contrĂŽlables.Domaines concernĂ©s : santĂ©, neuropsychologie, psychologie, activitĂ©s physiques et sportives...LA CREATION ET LE DEVELOPPEMENT D’OUTILS : les informaticiens crĂ©ent et testent des applications concernant les mĂ©thodes de navigation en monde virtuel, de restitution de la rĂ©alitĂ©.Domaine concernĂ© : informatique.LA FORMATION (axe en Ă©mergence) : par la reprĂ©sentation de la connaissance, par les diverses possibilitĂ©s d'expĂ©rimentation, la rĂ©alitĂ© virtuelle est un formidable outil de formation.Domaines concernĂ©s : sciences du langage, mĂ©decine, informatique (serious game, simulation...).Une partie importante de la rĂ©flexion dĂ©veloppĂ©e lors du sĂ©minaire Virtualia 2016 a Ă©tĂ© consacrĂ©e aux enjeux sociĂ©taux liĂ©s Ă  la rĂ©alitĂ© virtuelle : notions de mĂ©moire, d’apprentissage des gestes techniques, d’ĂȘtre humain « augmentĂ© » etc. Les articles publiĂ©s attestent du savoir-faire, bien rĂ©el cette fois, que le CIREVE a acquis en termes de crĂ©ation de mondes virtuels pour reprĂ©senter, expĂ©rimenter et former. La publication des actes du sĂ©minaire Virtualia vise Ă  mettre en lumiĂšre des recherches particuliĂšrement innovantes qui s’effectuent dans un cadre technologique exceptionnel.- S. Madeleine, Virtualia 2016. Introduction (et direction de l'Ă©dition)- J. Grieu, F. Lecroq, Th. Galinho, H. Boukachour, Environnements industriels virtualisĂ©s et processus d’apprentissage- Ph. Brunet, J. Dehut, Images 3D et humanitĂ©s numĂ©riques : modĂ©lisation et restitution du geste thĂ©Ăątral- G. Lecouvey, J. Gonneaud, N. Legrand, G. Rauchs, F. Eustache, B. Desgranges, RĂ©alitĂ© virtuelle et mĂ©moire- N. Benguigui, C. Mandil, M. Mallek, L. Lejeune, R. Thouvarecq, Étude des liens entre perception et action dans des environnements virtuels- E.-G. Dupuy, A. Maneuvrier, E. Vlamynck, S. Besnard, B. Bienvenu, L.-M. Decker, Le syndrome d’Ehlers-Danlos type hypermobile : Ă©volution des stratĂ©gies posturales en rĂ©ponse Ă  un programme de rĂ©Ă©ducation Ă  visĂ©e somesthĂ©sique- C. Weismann-Arcache, RĂ©alitĂ© virtuelle et humain augmentĂ© : subjectivation, dĂ©subjectivation ?- L. Haddouk, RĂ©alitĂ© psychique en visioconsultatio

    Impact d'une déficience somesthésique sur les mécanismes de régulation du contrÎle postural : un nouveau modÚle, le syndrome d'Ehlers-Danlos de type hypermobile

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    Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is the clinical manifestation of hereditary connective tissue disorders, comprising several clinical forms. The EDS hypermobility type (EDSh) is characterized by generalized joint hypermobility and variable skin hyperextensibility, which both generate somatosensory impairment. Somatosensory system is, together with visual and vestibular systems, crucially involved in sensorimotor system functioning. The aim of this work was to understand the impact of impaired proprioception on perceptive and sensorimotor mechanisms underlying postural control in EDSh patients. Evaluation of postural control was structured around two approaches. The first one was indirect, and evaluated the sensory mechanism underlying vertical perception. The second one was direct, and used detailed stabilometric analyses to investigate postural control.The first objective of this work was to evaluate how somatosensory impairment affects the contribution of spatial frame of reference (allocentric, egocentric, and geocentric) to visual vertical perception. Two types of tests were conducted to assess the vertical perception with and without visual information (Rod and Frame Test, RFT; Subjective visual vertical, SVV). These two studies showed that somatosensory impairment reduces the contribution of egocentric frame of reference (body axis) to vertical perception. In response, patients increase their visual field dependence, and thus, use preferentially allocentric frame of reference. The second axis aimed to identify sensory strategies adopted by these patients and their repercussion on postural regulation mechanisms. To investigate this question, a thorough postural assessment was conducted, using sensory perturbation and dual-task paradigm, and linear and non-linear analyses. We observed that somatosensory impairment impacts muscular proprioceptive contribution to automatic regulation mechanism involved in postural control. These modifications in postural regulation induce an increase of active monitoring of postural sway. In response, EDSh patients develop a visual dependence, and produce adaptive strategies based on stiffening of corrective mechanisms acting in long term. Finally, two pilot studies were conducted to test the impact of proprioceptive remediation, somatosensory orthoses and sensorimotor rehabilitation program, on postural control of these patients. Both of these two therapeutic solutions seem to induce a beneficial effect on postural control. This effect is reflected by an improvement of postural stability when patients wore somatosensory orthoses, and an enhancement of postural efficiency in response to sensorimotor rehabilitation. However, results also indicate that the immediate effect induced by orthotic device of somatosensory substitution is limited, because it did not help to decrease visual dependency. Hence, these observations allowed us to identify the postural regulation specificities in EDSh patients, and, in a preliminary way, to observe how they change in response to therapeutic solutions based on sensory remediation.Le syndrome d’Ehlers-Danlos (SED) est un groupe mixte de maladies hĂ©rĂ©ditaires dont la caractĂ©ristique commune est une altĂ©ration d’origine gĂ©nĂ©tique du tissu conjonctif. Sa forme hypermobile (SEDh) se caractĂ©rise par une hypermobilitĂ© articulaire gĂ©nĂ©ralisĂ©e, associĂ©e Ă  une hyperĂ©lasticitĂ© cutanĂ©e, gĂ©nĂ©rant toutes deux un dĂ©ficit somesthĂ©sique. Or, le systĂšme somesthĂ©sique est, avec les systĂšmes visuel et vestibulaire, crucialement impliquĂ© dans le fonctionnement du systĂšme sensorimoteur. Ce travail de thĂšse visait donc Ă  comprendre comment le dĂ©ficit somesthĂ©sique propre au SEDh modifie les mĂ©canismes perceptifs et sensorimoteurs sous-tendant le contrĂŽle postural. L’apprĂ©hension de ces mĂ©canismes s’est articulĂ©e autour de deux types d’approches : l’une indirecte, au travers de l’étude des mĂ©canismes sensoriels sous-tendant la perception de la verticale, et l’autre directe, au travers d’analyses posturographiques approfondies.Le premier objectif de travail visait Ă  dĂ©terminer comment le dĂ©ficit somesthĂ©sique affecte l’utilisation des cadres de rĂ©fĂ©rence spatiale (allocentrĂ©, Ă©gocentrĂ© et gĂ©ocentrĂ©) pour la perception de la verticale visuelle. Pour ce faire, nous avons conduit deux Ă©tudes Ă©valuant respectivement la perception de la verticale avec ou sans indices visuels (test de la baguette et du cadre, RFT ; test de verticale visuelle subjective, VVS). Ces deux Ă©tudes ont montrĂ© que le dĂ©ficit somesthĂ©sique diminuait la contribution du rĂ©fĂ©rentiel Ă©gocentrĂ© (axe corporel) Ă  la perception de la verticale. En rĂ©ponse, les patients prĂ©sentent une plus grande dĂ©pendance au champ visuel et s’appuient donc prĂ©fĂ©rentiellement sur le rĂ©fĂ©rentiel allocentrĂ©. Le second axe de travail visait Ă  identifier les stratĂ©gies sensorielles adoptĂ©es par ces patients, et Ă  Ă©valuer les rĂ©percussions de celles-ci sur les mĂ©canismes de rĂ©gulation posturale. Ces questions ont Ă©tĂ© investiguĂ©es au moyen d’évaluations posturographiques approfondies, utilisant Ă  la fois des paradigmes de perturbation sensorielle et de double tĂąche, ainsi que des analyses linĂ©aires et non-linĂ©aires. Nous avons ainsi observĂ© que le dĂ©ficit somesthĂ©sique des patients altĂ©rait la contribution de la proprioception musculaire aux mĂ©canismes en charge de la rĂ©gulation automatique de l’équilibre postural. Ces modifications dans la rĂ©gulation posturale se rĂ©percutent par une augmentation du monitoring actif des oscillations posturales par le systĂšme nerveux central. En retour, les patients SEDh dĂ©veloppent une visuodĂ©pendance, et mettent en place des stratĂ©gies adaptatives basĂ©es sur une rigidification des mĂ©canismes correctifs Ă  long terme. Enfin, deux Ă©tudes pilotes ont Ă©tĂ© conduites afin de tester l’effet de stratĂ©gies de remĂ©diation proprioceptive, Ă  savoir les orthĂšses somesthĂ©siques et la reprogrammation sensorimotrice, sur le contrĂŽle postural de ces patients. Chacune de ces prises en charge semble exercer un effet bĂ©nĂ©fique sur leur contrĂŽle postural, qui se traduit par une augmentation de la stabilitĂ© posturale lors du port des orthĂšses somesthĂ©siques, et une amĂ©lioration de l’efficacitĂ© du contrĂŽle postural suite Ă  la reprogrammation sensorimotrice. NĂ©anmoins, les rĂ©sultats indiquent Ă©galement que l’effet immĂ©diat opĂ©rĂ© par les dispositifs orthĂ©tiques de supplĂ©ance somesthĂ©sique est limitĂ© puisqu’il ne permet pas de diminuer la visuodĂ©pendance des patients. Cet effet est, en revanche, induit par l’action de la reprogrammation sensorimotrice, qui, par le renforcement du systĂšme proprioceptif, libĂšre les patients SEDh de leur visuodĂ©pendance. Ainsi, ces observations nous ont permis de caractĂ©riser les spĂ©cificitĂ©s de la rĂ©gulation posturale chez les patients SEDh, et, de façon prĂ©liminaire, d’observer la façon dont celles-ci Ă©voluent en rĂ©ponse Ă  des prises en charge spĂ©cifiquement orientĂ©es sur la remĂ©diation sensorielle

    Impact of somatosensory impairment on perceptive mechanisms and postural control, a new model : Ehlers-Danlos syndrome hypermobility type

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    Le syndrome d’Ehlers-Danlos (SED) est un groupe mixte de maladies hĂ©rĂ©ditaires dont la caractĂ©ristique commune est une altĂ©ration d’origine gĂ©nĂ©tique du tissu conjonctif. Sa forme hypermobile (SEDh) se caractĂ©rise par une hypermobilitĂ© articulaire gĂ©nĂ©ralisĂ©e, associĂ©e Ă  une hyperĂ©lasticitĂ© cutanĂ©e, gĂ©nĂ©rant toutes deux un dĂ©ficit somesthĂ©sique. Or, le systĂšme somesthĂ©sique est, avec les systĂšmes visuel et vestibulaire, crucialement impliquĂ© dans le fonctionnement du systĂšme sensorimoteur. Ce travail de thĂšse visait donc Ă  comprendre comment le dĂ©ficit somesthĂ©sique propre au SEDh modifie les mĂ©canismes perceptifs et sensorimoteurs sous-tendant le contrĂŽle postural. L’apprĂ©hension de ces mĂ©canismes s’est articulĂ©e autour de deux types d’approches : l’une indirecte, au travers de l’étude des mĂ©canismes sensoriels sous-tendant la perception de la verticale, et l’autre directe, au travers d’analyses posturographiques approfondies.Le premier objectif de travail visait Ă  dĂ©terminer comment le dĂ©ficit somesthĂ©sique affecte l’utilisation des cadres de rĂ©fĂ©rence spatiale (allocentrĂ©, Ă©gocentrĂ© et gĂ©ocentrĂ©) pour la perception de la verticale visuelle. Pour ce faire, nous avons conduit deux Ă©tudes Ă©valuant respectivement la perception de la verticale avec ou sans indices visuels (test de la baguette et du cadre, RFT ; test de verticale visuelle subjective, VVS). Ces deux Ă©tudes ont montrĂ© que le dĂ©ficit somesthĂ©sique diminuait la contribution du rĂ©fĂ©rentiel Ă©gocentrĂ© (axe corporel) Ă  la perception de la verticale. En rĂ©ponse, les patients prĂ©sentent une plus grande dĂ©pendance au champ visuel et s’appuient donc prĂ©fĂ©rentiellement sur le rĂ©fĂ©rentiel allocentrĂ©. Le second axe de travail visait Ă  identifier les stratĂ©gies sensorielles adoptĂ©es par ces patients, et Ă  Ă©valuer les rĂ©percussions de celles-ci sur les mĂ©canismes de rĂ©gulation posturale. Ces questions ont Ă©tĂ© investiguĂ©es au moyen d’évaluations posturographiques approfondies, utilisant Ă  la fois des paradigmes de perturbation sensorielle et de double tĂąche, ainsi que des analyses linĂ©aires et non-linĂ©aires. Nous avons ainsi observĂ© que le dĂ©ficit somesthĂ©sique des patients altĂ©rait la contribution de la proprioception musculaire aux mĂ©canismes en charge de la rĂ©gulation automatique de l’équilibre postural. Ces modifications dans la rĂ©gulation posturale se rĂ©percutent par une augmentation du monitoring actif des oscillations posturales par le systĂšme nerveux central. En retour, les patients SEDh dĂ©veloppent une visuodĂ©pendance, et mettent en place des stratĂ©gies adaptatives basĂ©es sur une rigidification des mĂ©canismes correctifs Ă  long terme. Enfin, deux Ă©tudes pilotes ont Ă©tĂ© conduites afin de tester l’effet de stratĂ©gies de remĂ©diation proprioceptive, Ă  savoir les orthĂšses somesthĂ©siques et la reprogrammation sensorimotrice, sur le contrĂŽle postural de ces patients. Chacune de ces prises en charge semble exercer un effet bĂ©nĂ©fique sur leur contrĂŽle postural, qui se traduit par une augmentation de la stabilitĂ© posturale lors du port des orthĂšses somesthĂ©siques, et une amĂ©lioration de l’efficacitĂ© du contrĂŽle postural suite Ă  la reprogrammation sensorimotrice. NĂ©anmoins, les rĂ©sultats indiquent Ă©galement que l’effet immĂ©diat opĂ©rĂ© par les dispositifs orthĂ©tiques de supplĂ©ance somesthĂ©sique est limitĂ© puisqu’il ne permet pas de diminuer la visuodĂ©pendance des patients. Cet effet est, en revanche, induit par l’action de la reprogrammation sensorimotrice, qui, par le renforcement du systĂšme proprioceptif, libĂšre les patients SEDh de leur visuodĂ©pendance. Ainsi, ces observations nous ont permis de caractĂ©riser les spĂ©cificitĂ©s de la rĂ©gulation posturale chez les patients SEDh, et, de façon prĂ©liminaire, d’observer la façon dont celles-ci Ă©voluent en rĂ©ponse Ă  des prises en charge spĂ©cifiquement orientĂ©es sur la remĂ©diation sensorielle.Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is the clinical manifestation of hereditary connective tissue disorders, comprising several clinical forms. The EDS hypermobility type (EDSh) is characterized by generalized joint hypermobility and variable skin hyperextensibility, which both generate somatosensory impairment. Somatosensory system is, together with visual and vestibular systems, crucially involved in sensorimotor system functioning. The aim of this work was to understand the impact of impaired proprioception on perceptive and sensorimotor mechanisms underlying postural control in EDSh patients. Evaluation of postural control was structured around two approaches. The first one was indirect, and evaluated the sensory mechanism underlying vertical perception. The second one was direct, and used detailed stabilometric analyses to investigate postural control.The first objective of this work was to evaluate how somatosensory impairment affects the contribution of spatial frame of reference (allocentric, egocentric, and geocentric) to visual vertical perception. Two types of tests were conducted to assess the vertical perception with and without visual information (Rod and Frame Test, RFT; Subjective visual vertical, SVV). These two studies showed that somatosensory impairment reduces the contribution of egocentric frame of reference (body axis) to vertical perception. In response, patients increase their visual field dependence, and thus, use preferentially allocentric frame of reference. The second axis aimed to identify sensory strategies adopted by these patients and their repercussion on postural regulation mechanisms. To investigate this question, a thorough postural assessment was conducted, using sensory perturbation and dual-task paradigm, and linear and non-linear analyses. We observed that somatosensory impairment impacts muscular proprioceptive contribution to automatic regulation mechanism involved in postural control. These modifications in postural regulation induce an increase of active monitoring of postural sway. In response, EDSh patients develop a visual dependence, and produce adaptive strategies based on stiffening of corrective mechanisms acting in long term. Finally, two pilot studies were conducted to test the impact of proprioceptive remediation, somatosensory orthoses and sensorimotor rehabilitation program, on postural control of these patients. Both of these two therapeutic solutions seem to induce a beneficial effect on postural control. This effect is reflected by an improvement of postural stability when patients wore somatosensory orthoses, and an enhancement of postural efficiency in response to sensorimotor rehabilitation. However, results also indicate that the immediate effect induced by orthotic device of somatosensory substitution is limited, because it did not help to decrease visual dependency. Hence, these observations allowed us to identify the postural regulation specificities in EDSh patients, and, in a preliminary way, to observe how they change in response to therapeutic solutions based on sensory remediation
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