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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion
Published on: January 15, 2016
Development of bipedal walking in humans and chimpanzees: a comparative study
Tasuku Kimura1, Naoko Yaguramaki
1Ishikawa Prefectural Nursing University, Kahoku City, Japan. tkimura@ishikawa-nu.ac.jp
Insights
Human infant and chimpanzee infant bipedal walking shares immature traits like short braking and low energy recovery. Adult chimpanzee walking remains less efficient than unique human adult bipedalism.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Comparative biomechanics
- Human locomotion
Background:
- Bipedalism is a defining human trait.
- Understanding its developmental and evolutionary origins is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally analyze the development of bipedal walking in human infants and chimpanzees.
- To compare infant and adult locomotor patterns between species.
- To infer characteristics of ancestral pre-bipedal locomotion.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of infant human and chimpanzee walking.
- Analysis of kinematic and kinetic parameters of locomotion.
- Comparative analysis between infant and adult gaits, and between species.
Main Results:
- Infant humans and chimpanzees exhibit unsteady, non-rhythmic walking with short braking duration and minimal mechanical energy recovery.
- Both infant groups show forward trunk inclination, limited joint extension, and weak acceleration.
- Adult chimpanzee locomotion retains characteristics like forward trunk inclination and short braking, differing significantly from efficient human adult bipedalism.
Conclusions:
- Early bipedal walking in both species is characterized by inefficient energy use and immature motor control.
- Adult chimpanzee locomotion represents a distinct evolutionary path compared to human bipedalism.
- These findings provide insights into the locomotor characteristics of early hominin ancestors.
Abstract:
Development of bipedal walking from the very early stage of walking was studied longitudinally in infant humans and chimpanzees. In contrast to adults, infants of neither species could walk steadily and rhythmically step by step. Short braking duration and small recovery of mechanical energy were demonstrated in infants of both species. The trunk was inclined forwards, the extension of lower limb joints was limited and the accelerating force was not strongly activated. Potential energy was not efficiently used in progression. Walking in adult chimpanzees still showed a forward-inclined trunk, short braking duration, small recovery of energy and large variance of parameters compared to the unique human adult bipedalism. The locomotor characteristics of presumed pre-bipedal ancestors are discussed.
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