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    Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2009 May;1164:97-103.

    Human bipeds use quadrupedal coordination during locomotion.

    Source

    Balgrist University Hospital, Spinal Cord Injury Center, Forchstrasse 340, Zurich, Switzerland. Volker.Dietz@balgrist.ch

    Abstract

    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.

    PMID:
    19645886
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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