title: Modulation of phase durations, phase variations, and temporal coordination of the four limbs during quadrupedal split-belt locomotion in intact adult cats.
abstract: Stepping along curvilinear paths produces speed differences between the inner and outer limb(s). This can be reproduced experimentally by independently controlling left and right speeds with split-belt locomotion. Here we provide additional details on the pattern of the four limbs during quadrupedal split-belt locomotion in intact cats. Six cats performed tied-belt locomotion (same speed bilaterally) and split-belt locomotion where one side (constant side) stepped at constant treadmill speed while the other side (varying side) stepped at several speeds. Cycle, stance, and swing durations changed in parallel in homolateral limbs with shorter and longer stance and swing durations on the fast side, respectively, compared with the slow side. Phase variations were quantified in all four limbs by measuring the slopes of the regressions between stance and cycle durations (rSTA) and between swing and cycle durations (rSW). For a given limb, rSTA and rSW were not significantly different from one another on the constant side whereas on the varying side rSTA increased relative to tied-belt locomotion while rSW became more negative. Phase variations were similar for homolateral limbs. Increasing left-right speed differences produced a large increase in homolateral double support on the slow side, while triple-support periods decreased. Increasing left-right speed differences altered homologous coupling, homolateral coupling on the fast side, and coupling between the fast hindlimb and slow forelimb. Results indicate that homolateral limbs share similar control strategies, only certain features of the interlimb pattern adjust, and spinal locomotor networks of the left and right sides are organized symmetrically.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre de recherche du CHUS, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre de recherche du CHUS, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Yann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Thibaudier
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre de recherche du CHUS, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Telonio
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre de recherche du CHUS, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-France
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Hurteau
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre de recherche du CHUS, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kuczynski
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre de recherche du CHUS, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Charline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dambreville
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre de recherche du CHUS, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada alain.frigon@usherbrooke.ca.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frigon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002415:Cats; D005121:Extremities / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male
keywords: interlimb coordination; locomotion; phase variations; split-belt