Research & Development
Although the gravity-dependence of the nervous system is well known to space researchers, the significance of the related mechanisms for our terrestrial wellbeing is not widely appreciated. Due to the recent dominance of molecular biology and genetics, the role of physical forces in shaping our health and wellbeing has been downplayed and often even ignored.
However, a growing number of scientists are starting to realise that many of the most significant diseases and health conditions also have a strong mechanical basis. Because body mechanisms and movements are generally driven by sensory input to the nervous system, this implies that large numbers of people are experiencing impaired information flow to the brain without realising it.
Given that much of the most vital sensory information depends on consistently strong interaction with the gravitational field, it is likely that many human beings are in fact experiencing a form of gravity deprivation and that this is an important hidden contributor to the global health crisis.
It is clear that in many cases our bodies are losing the 'feel' of gravity, which negatively alters the function of the nervous system via reduced proprioceptive feedback. Fortunately, E2 Human is developing ways to reverse this effect by using gravity (and sound) to modulate sensory-motor performance. This in turn works to improve/restore movement capability and neuromechanical function in general.
The most effective and practical neural stimuli have so far proven to be a small weight specifically positioned on the back of the head together with a special inaudible sound delivered into one ear. As well as walking speed and rhythm, tests have so far shown significant improvements in posture, ability to get up from a chair and stair climbing.
As shown at the end of this video, our mock-up prototype headset has brought about the following improvements to the gait of an 84 year-old man walking outdoors for 60m on coarse, uneven gravel with only a 5-minute rest in between:
Speed: +11% (+7 sec)
Cadence: +6% (+14 steps/min)
Stride length: +5% (+3 cm)
The next step is to design, build and test a full prototype (TRL 7) in the form of a weighted off-ear headset that works via bone conduction. In the meantime, we will continue testing and evaluating the mock-up version.
