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Updated: May 6, 2026
Non-invasive Assessment of Changes in Corticomotoneuronal Transmission in Humans
Published on: May 24, 2017
Effects of volitional walking control on postexercise changes in motor cortical excitability
Tomotaka Ito1, Akio Tsubahara, Koichi Shinkoda
1aDepartment of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Science and Technology bGraduate School of Health Science and Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Okayama cDivision of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Sciences, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Health Sciences dBiomechanics Laboratory, Applied Life Sciences, Hiroshima University Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
Asymmetrical walking significantly reduces motor cortical excitability, unlike symmetrical walking. This suggests gait pattern control influences brain activity during exercise.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Motor cortical excitability plays a crucial role in motor control.
- Understanding how different walking patterns affect cortical excitability is important for rehabilitation and training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of asymmetrical versus symmetrical walking on motor-evoked potential (MEP) amplitude.
- To determine the effects of qualitative and quantitative changes in walking on motor cortical excitability.
Main Methods:
- Eight healthy participants performed asymmetrical and symmetrical walking tasks on a treadmill.
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to measure motor-evoked potential (MEP) amplitude before, during, and after walking.
- Walking tasks involved specific ratios of left to right stance duration to induce asymmetry.
Main Results:
- A significant depression in MEP amplitude was observed after the asymmetrical walking task.
- No significant MEP decrease below baseline was found after the symmetrical walking task.
- The MEP depression was more pronounced following asymmetrical walking.
Conclusions:
- Intentional control of walking patterns, specifically asymmetry, influences temporal and task-specific changes in cerebral cortex excitability.
- Motor cortical excitability can be modulated by controlling central commands to the legs during gait exercise.
