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Task difficulty of visually guided gait modifications involves differences in central drive to spinal motor neurons

Larsen, HH; Justiniano, MD; Frisk, RF; Lundbye-Jensen, J; Farmer, SF; Nielsen, JB; (2024) Task difficulty of visually guided gait modifications involves differences in central drive to spinal motor neurons. Journal of Neurophysiology , 132 (4) pp. 1126-1141. 10.1152/jn.00466.2023.

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Abstract

Walking in natural environments requires visually guided modifications, which can be more challenging when involving sideways steps rather than longer steps. This exploratory study investigated whether these two types of modifications involve different changes in the central drive to spinal motor neurons of leg muscles. Fifteen adults [age: 36 ± 6 (SD) years] walked on a treadmill (4 km/h) while observing a screen displaying the real-time position of their toes. At the beginning of the swing phase, a visual target appeared in front (forward) or medial-lateral (sideways) of the ground contact in random step cycles (approximately every third step). We measured three-dimensional kinematics and electromyographic activity from leg muscles bilaterally. Intermuscular coherence was calculated in the alpha (5–15 Hz), beta (15–30 Hz), and gamma bands (30–45 Hz) approximately 230 ms before and after ground contact in control and target steps. Results showed that adjustments toward sideways targets were associated with significantly higher error, lower foot lift, and higher cocontraction between antagonist ankle muscles. Movements toward sideways targets were associated with larger beta-band soleus (SOL): medial gastrocnemius (MG) coherence and a more narrow and larger peak of synchronization in the cumulant density before ground contact. In contrast, movements toward forward targets showed no significant differences in coherence or synchronization compared with control steps. Larger SOL:MG beta-band coherence and short-term synchronization were observed during sideways, but not forward, gait modifications. This suggests that visually guided gait modifications may involve differences in the central drive to spinal ankle motor neurons dependent on the level of task difficulty. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This exploratory study suggests a specific and temporally restricted increase of central (likely corticospinal) drive to ankle muscles in relation to visually guided gait modifications. The findings indicate that a high level of visual attention to control the position of the ankle joint precisely before ground contact may involve increased central drive to ankle muscles. These findings are important for understanding the neural mechanisms underlying visually guided gait and may help develop rehabilitation interventions.

Type: Article
Title: Task difficulty of visually guided gait modifications involves differences in central drive to spinal motor neurons
Location: United States
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00466.2023
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.00466.2023
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the version of record. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
Keywords: corticospinal drive, gait modification, goal-directed stepping, precision stepping, visually guided walking
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology > Clinical and Movement Neurosciences
URI: https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10199053
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