Error signals driving locomotor adaptation: Cutaneous feedback from the foot is used to adapt movement during perturbed walking

TY - JOUR

T1 - Error signals driving locomotor adaptation

T2 - Cutaneous feedback from the foot is used to adapt movement during perturbed walking

AU - Choi, Julia T

AU - Jensen, Peter

AU - Nielsen, Jens Bo

AU - Bouyer, Laurent J

N1 - CURIS 2016 NEXS 184

PY - 2016/10/1

Y1 - 2016/10/1

N2 - Key points: Sensory input from peripheral receptors are important for the regulation of walking patterns. Cutaneous input mediates muscle responses to deal with immediate external perturbations. In this study we focused on the role of cutaneous feedback in locomotor adaptation that takes place over minutes of training. We show that interfering with cutaneous feedback reduced adaptation to ankle perturbations during walking. These results help us understand the neural mechanisms underlying walking adaptation, and have clinical implications for treating walking impairments after neurological injuries. Abstract: Locomotor patterns must be adapted to external forces encountered during daily activities. The contribution of different sensory inputs to detecting perturbations and adapting movements during walking is unclear. In the present study, we examined the role of cutaneous feedback in adapting walking patterns to force perturbations. Forces were applied to the ankle joint during the early swing phase using an electrohydraulic ankle–foot orthosis. Repetitive 80 Hz electrical stimulation was applied to disrupt cutaneous feedback from the superficial peroneal nerve (foot dorsum) and medial plantar nerve (foot sole) during walking (Choi et al. 2013). Sensory tests were performed to measure the cutaneous touch threshold and perceptual threshold of force perturbations. Ankle movement were measured when the subjects walked on the treadmill over three periods: baseline (1 min), adaptation (1 min) and post-adaptation (3 min). Subjects (n = 10) showed increased touch thresholds measured with Von Frey monofilaments and increased force perception thresholds with stimulation. Stimulation reduced the magnitude of walking adaptation to force perturbation. In addition, we compared the effects of interrupting cutaneous feedback using anaesthesia (n = 5) instead of repetitive nerve stimulation. Foot anaesthesia reduced ankle adaptation to external force perturbations during walking. The results of the present study suggest that cutaneous input plays a role in force perception, and may contribute to the ‘error’ signal involved in driving walking adaptation when there is a mismatch between expected and actual force.

AB - Key points: Sensory input from peripheral receptors are important for the regulation of walking patterns. Cutaneous input mediates muscle responses to deal with immediate external perturbations. In this study we focused on the role of cutaneous feedback in locomotor adaptation that takes place over minutes of training. We show that interfering with cutaneous feedback reduced adaptation to ankle perturbations during walking. These results help us understand the neural mechanisms underlying walking adaptation, and have clinical implications for treating walking impairments after neurological injuries. Abstract: Locomotor patterns must be adapted to external forces encountered during daily activities. The contribution of different sensory inputs to detecting perturbations and adapting movements during walking is unclear. In the present study, we examined the role of cutaneous feedback in adapting walking patterns to force perturbations. Forces were applied to the ankle joint during the early swing phase using an electrohydraulic ankle–foot orthosis. Repetitive 80 Hz electrical stimulation was applied to disrupt cutaneous feedback from the superficial peroneal nerve (foot dorsum) and medial plantar nerve (foot sole) during walking (Choi et al. 2013). Sensory tests were performed to measure the cutaneous touch threshold and perceptual threshold of force perturbations. Ankle movement were measured when the subjects walked on the treadmill over three periods: baseline (1 min), adaptation (1 min) and post-adaptation (3 min). Subjects (n = 10) showed increased touch thresholds measured with Von Frey monofilaments and increased force perception thresholds with stimulation. Stimulation reduced the magnitude of walking adaptation to force perturbation. In addition, we compared the effects of interrupting cutaneous feedback using anaesthesia (n = 5) instead of repetitive nerve stimulation. Foot anaesthesia reduced ankle adaptation to external force perturbations during walking. The results of the present study suggest that cutaneous input plays a role in force perception, and may contribute to the ‘error’ signal involved in driving walking adaptation when there is a mismatch between expected and actual force.

U2 - 10.1113/jp271996

DO - 10.1113/jp271996

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27218896

SN - 0022-3751

VL - 594

SP - 5673

EP - 5684

JO - The Journal of Physiology

JF - The Journal of Physiology

IS - 19

ER -