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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

A Fine Motor Task to Study Joint Kinematics in a Preclinical Model of Neurodegenerative Disease

A Fine Motor Task to Study Joint Kinematics in a Preclinical Model of Neurodegenerative Disease

Published on: June 13, 2025

Frontal lobe ataxia.

Philip D Thompson¹

¹University Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Australia. philip.thompson@adelaide.edu.au

Handbook of Clinical Neurology

|August 11, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Human frontal lobes are critical for walking. Damage causes diverse gait disorders, including instability, falls, and freezing, impacting locomotion and balance.

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Eye-Tracking Control to Assess Cognitive Functions in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Eye-Tracking Control to Assess Cognitive Functions in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Published on: October 13, 2016

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Human Physiology
Clinical Neurology

Background:

The precise anatomy and physiology of human walking are not fully understood.
Frontal lobes play a crucial role in controlling gait, posture, and equilibrium.
Frontal lobe damage leads to a complex range of gait disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the role of the frontal lobes in human locomotion.
To describe the spectrum of gait disorders associated with frontal lobe dysfunction.
To differentiate frontal gait disorders from other neurological conditions.

Main Methods:

Clinical observation and analysis of patient presentations with frontal lobe diseases.
Characterization of gait abnormalities including stance, sway, truncal control, and locomotion initiation.
Comparison of frontal gait syndromes with cerebellar ataxia and Parkinson's disease.

Main Results:

Frontal lobe gait disorders present with variable combinations of disequilibrium, wide stance, increased sway, falls, and impaired truncal motion.
Specific symptoms include gait ignition failure, start hesitation, shuffling, and freezing.
Distinguishing features from cerebellar ataxia and Parkinson's disease were identified.

Conclusions:

Frontal lobe dysfunction results in a wide spectrum of gait disturbances, often accompanied by cognitive and motor changes.
These gait disorders are linked to damage in the frontal cortex and its connections with subcortical structures.
Understanding these complexities is essential for accurate diagnosis and management of frontal gait syndromes.