Prefrontal, posterior parietal and sensorimotor network activity underlying speed control during walking

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Motor Control
• Human Locomotion

Background:

• Cortical circuits are increasingly recognized for their role in human locomotion control.
• Understanding the neural correlates of walking is crucial for advancing motor rehabilitation and training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying human walking using electroencephalography (EEG).
• To identify specific cortical activity patterns associated with different walking speeds and treadmill conditions.

Main Methods:

• Noninvasive EEG was recorded from participants during a novel treadmill walking paradigm.
• Advanced signal processing, including subspace reconstruction and independent component analysis, was used to reduce artifacts.
• Cortical activity was quantified by analyzing frequency-specific oscillations and their localization.

Main Results:

• Active walking elicited frequency-specific cortical oscillations, particularly increased low gamma (γ) band power in prefrontal and posterior parietal cortices during key gait phases.
• Sustained desynchronization in μ and β bands within the sensorimotor cortex confirmed movement-related neural activity.
• The active treadmill condition demonstrated enhanced cortical network engagement.

Conclusions:

• Prefrontal and posterior parietal networks are actively engaged in lower limb control during gait, integrating visuo-spatial and somatosensory information.
• EEG during locomotion effectively probes multi-regional cortical networks involved in gait execution.
• The active treadmill paradigm shows promise for enhancing neuroplasticity and improving motor training efficacy.