Premium
Human Bipeds Use Quadrupedal Coordination during Locomotion
Author(s) -
Dietz Volker,
Michel Jan
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2008.03710.x
Subject(s) - quadrupedalism , neuroscience , spinal cord , physical medicine and rehabilitation , task (project management) , forelimb , biology , psychology , anatomy , medicine , management , economics
During evolution, the increased influence of a direct cortical–motoneuronal system in parallel with a more specialized hand function might have replaced phylogenetically older systems that organized locomotor movements. However, recent research indicates that interlimb coordination during human locomotion is organized in a way similar to that in the cat. During locomotion, corticospinal excitation of upper‐limb motoneurons is mediated indirectly, via propriospinal neurons in the cervical spinal cord. This allows a task‐dependent neuronal linkage of cervical and thoracolumbar propriospinal circuits controlling leg and arm movements during human locomotor activities. During obstacle avoidance steps, an anticipatory quadrupedal limb coordination is up‐regulated, with an involvement of proximal arm muscles during the acquisition and performance of this precision locomotor task.