Locomotor Coordination, Visual Perception and Head Stability during Running.

Joseph Hamill,Richard Van Emmerik,Jongil Lim

doi:10.3390/brainsci10030174

Joseph Hamill, Richard Van Emmerik + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10030174

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Abstract

Perception and action are coupled such that information from the perceptual system is related to the dynamics of action in order to regulate behavior adaptively. Using running as a model of a cyclic behavior, this coupling involves a continuous, cyclic relationship between the runner’s perception of the environment and the necessary adjustments of the body that ultimately result in a stable pattern of behavior. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how individuals relate visual perception to rhythmic locomotor coordination patterns in conditions during which foot–ground collisions and visual task demands are altered. We review the findings of studies conducted to illustrate how humans change their behavior to maintain head stability during running with and without various degrees of visual challenge from the environment. Finally, we show that the human body adapts specific segment/joint configuration and coordination patterns to maintain head stability, both in the lower extremity and upper body segments, together with an increase in coordinative variability. These results indicate that in human locomotion, under higher speed (running) and visual task demands, systematic adaptations occur in the rhythmic coupling between the perceptual and movement systems.

Highlights

Locomotor analyses have long been studied in biomechanics in both laboratory and non-laboratory environments [1,2]
Based on the concept of Perception–Action Coupling, perception is both generated by movement
In the words of James Gibson [6], from whom the notion of Perception–Action Coupling stems, "We must perceive in order to move, but we must move in Perception–Action Coupling stems, "We must perceive in order to move, but we must move in order to perceive"

Summary

Introduction

Locomotor analyses have long been studied in biomechanics in both laboratory and non-laboratory environments [1,2]. The foot–ground contact, in running, results in a shock wave stabilizes the position of the head with respect to the trunk [15]. The relationship between these two that is transmitted throughout the musculoskeletal system. Contact, in running, results in a Researchers shock wave have suggested that minimizing head movement (i.e., head stability) is critical in maintaining a that is transmitted throughout the musculoskeletal system This shock wave is propagated towards relatively constant visual field allowing the individual to continue a visual reference [13]. The result of the adaptation of the total system is that the accelerations that reach the head subsequent to the foot–ground collision in locomotion show little change across different locomotor conditions [20]. The second study identified adaptive changes in running kinematics and impact shock transmission as a function of head stability requirements while the third study identified change in coordination with increasing head stability requirements

Shock Attenuation and Head Stability

Tibial

Adaptive as the a Function

Coordination and Head Stability

Findings

Summary