Head movements during locomotion in a gibbon and Japanese macaques.
Kinematic analysis of head and body movements during locomotion in Macaca fuscata and Hylobates lar revealed that coordinated head rotation and translation that have been reported to play an important role in stabilizing gaze during locomotion for humans are also observed in non-human primates. The fact that well-coordinated head movements were observed in two species, and during both bipedal and quadrupedal walking, suggests that the head orientation during locomotion is well regulated in the manner of top-down control over the species and modes of locomotion. The result validates the monkey model and enables us to explore the underlying mechanisms for gaze, head, and postural control during locomotion.
Hirasaki
Eishi
E
Laboratory of Biological Anthropology, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, 1-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. hirasaki@hus.osaka-u.ac.jp
Kumakura
Hiroo
H
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D019416:Head Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D006922:Hylobates / Q000502:physiology*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D008251:Macaca / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000502:physiology