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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Kinematics and Ground Reaction Force Determination: A Demonstration Quantifying Locomotor Abilities of Young Adult, Middle-aged, and Geriatric Rats
10:28

Kinematics and Ground Reaction Force Determination: A Demonstration Quantifying Locomotor Abilities of Young Adult, Middle-aged, and Geriatric Rats

Published on: February 22, 2011

Development of human locomotion.

Francesco Lacquaniti1, Yuri P Ivanenko, Myrka Zago

  • 1Department of Systems Medicine, Neuroscience Section, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. lacquaniti@caspur.it

Current Opinion in Neurobiology
|April 14, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Human locomotion relies on spinal cord neural networks, Central Pattern Generators, producing basic muscle commands. Development reveals flexible motor control principles common across vertebrates.

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Quantifying Learning in Young Infants: Tracking Leg Actions During a Discovery-learning Task
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Published on: June 1, 2015

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Last Updated: May 23, 2026

Kinematics and Ground Reaction Force Determination: A Demonstration Quantifying Locomotor Abilities of Young Adult, Middle-aged, and Geriatric Rats
10:28

Kinematics and Ground Reaction Force Determination: A Demonstration Quantifying Locomotor Abilities of Young Adult, Middle-aged, and Geriatric Rats

Published on: February 22, 2011

Quantifying Learning in Young Infants: Tracking Leg Actions During a Discovery-learning Task
11:18

Quantifying Learning in Young Infants: Tracking Leg Actions During a Discovery-learning Task

Published on: June 1, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Motor Control

Background:

  • Human locomotion is controlled by sequential patterned commands to leg muscles.
  • These commands originate from neural networks in the spinal cord, known as Central Pattern Generators (CPGs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in understanding motor command expression during human development.
  • To explore common principles of locomotion control networks across different developmental stages and species.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature on neural control of locomotion.
  • Comparative analysis of motor command expression in human development and other vertebrates.

Main Results:

  • Locomotion development involves flexible expression of motor commands across human lifespan.
  • Similar control principles observed in human and vertebrate locomotion development suggest conserved neural network organization.
  • Movement flexibility is crucial for learning and environmental interaction.

Conclusions:

  • Spinal cord CPGs generate fundamental patterned commands for human locomotion.
  • Locomotion control networks share common organizational principles across vertebrate development.
  • Motor flexibility is a key feature throughout development, facilitating adaptation and learning.