Electrocortical activity is coupled to gait cycle phase during treadmill walking
Joseph T Gwin1, Klaus Gramann, Scott Makeig
1Human Neuromechanics Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2214, USA. jgwin@umich.edu
Neuroimage
|September 14, 2010
Summary
Human brain activity, specifically in the cortex, changes with each step during walking. This study used electroencephalography (EEG) to reveal these intra-stride cortical dynamics during locomotion.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomechanics
- Human Locomotion
Background:
- Previous research indicates human cortical activity during steady-speed locomotion.
- Existing imaging techniques lack the temporal resolution to analyze intra-stride cortical dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if electrocortical activity is coupled to the gait cycle phase during steady-speed human walking.
- To assess intra-stride cortical dynamics using high-temporal-resolution methods.
Main Methods:
- Utilized electroencephalography (EEG), motion capture, and a force-measuring treadmill.
- Applied Infomax independent component analysis (ICA) to parse EEG signals.
- Calculated equivalent current dipoles and clustered electrocortical sources.
Main Results:
- Significant intra-stride changes in spectral power were observed in the anterior cingulate, posterior parietal, and sensorimotor cortex (p<0.05).
- Alpha and beta band power increased during the end of stance, particularly in sensorimotor cortex correlating with limb push-off.
- High-gamma spectral power changes were detected across anterior cingulate, posterior parietal, and sensorimotor cortex.
Conclusions:
- Cortical involvement in steady-speed human locomotion is confirmed.
- The findings demonstrate a coupling between gait cycle phase and electrocortical activity.
- This technique offers potential for understanding movement disorders and gait rehabilitation.
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