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Keep looking ahead? Re-direction of visual fixation does not always occur during an unpredictable obstacle avoidance
Daniel S Marigold1, Vivian Weerdesteyn, Aftab E Patla
1Gait and Posture Lab, Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. West, Waterloo, ON, Canada. dsmarigo@ahsmail.uwaterloo.ca
Experimental Brain Research
|July 5, 2006
Summary
Peripheral vision is sufficient for avoiding sudden obstacles during walking. Eye movements (saccades) are rarely used and typically occur after muscle activation for limb elevation, indicating successful obstacle avoidance without re-directing visual fixation.
Area of Science:
- Human locomotion
- Visual perception
- Motor control
Background:
- Safe locomotion relies on visual information, particularly for obstacles.
- The necessity of central versus peripheral vision for avoiding sudden obstacles remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if visual fixation redirects to a sudden obstacle during treadmill walking.
- To determine the timing of eye and head movements relative to muscle activity for obstacle avoidance.
Main Methods:
- Eight females walked on a treadmill, encountering randomly released obstacles.
- Visual conditions included central fixation on obstacles or peripheral fixation ahead.
- Eye and head movements, muscle activity, and foot parameters were monitored.
Main Results:
- Task performance did not differ between central and peripheral vision conditions.
- Saccadic eye movements occurred in less than 18% of trials.
- When saccades occurred, they were initiated ~350 ms after muscle activity, often with downward head movement, and directed to the landing area.
Conclusions:
- Peripheral vision is sufficient for successful obstacle avoidance during locomotion.
- Visual fixation is generally not re-directed to the obstacle or landing area when avoiding sudden obstacles.
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