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Obstacle avoidance and smooth trajectory control: neural areas highlighted during improved locomotor performance
Jac Billington1, Richard M Wilkie, John P Wann
1Institute of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Leeds Leeds, UK.
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
|February 21, 2013
Summary
The superior parietal lobe (SPL) is crucial for steering control during locomotion. Enhanced SPL activation correlates with smoother steering, indicating its role in anticipating obstacles for improved navigation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Motor Control
Background:
- Visual control of locomotion integrates current motion detection with trajectory anticipation.
- Steering involves complex neural processing for navigation and obstacle avoidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate distinct neural systems for egomotion detection versus trajectory anticipation in steering.
- To determine the role of the superior parietal lobe (SPL) in steering control and performance.
Main Methods:
- A slalom paradigm in a simulated environment using joystick control.
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure brain activity during steering tasks.
- Comparison of steering 'preview' (full course visible) and 'near' (object-by-object) trials, with control trials.
Main Results:
- Confirmed superior parietal lobe (SPL) recruitment during steering.
- Observed more extensive parietal and sensorimotor network activation in 'preview' versus 'near' trials.
- Found increased SPL activation correlated with smoother steering performance.
Conclusions:
- The SPL plays a key role in encoding path-defining targets or obstacles during locomotion.
- Individual differences in steering performance may be underpinned by SPL activation patterns.
- Distinct neural processes contribute to different aspects of steering control.
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