Lecture 1.2

Question 1

Why is gait important to understand?

Answer 1

Gait is the most powerful tool for diagnosing neurological conditions

Question 2

When do humans start producing rhythmic activity?

Answer 2

Fetuses experience alternating patterns of rhythmic activity

Question 3

How are reciprocally connected interneurons activated in rhythmic movement?

Answer 3

Reciprocally connected inhibitory interneurons produce an elementary alternating phasic pattern of output.

Question 4

What part of the spinal cord is most important when walking?

Answer 4

Lumbosacral region is the most important region for rhythmic walking

Question 5

What stages does bipedal walking follow in newborns?

Answer 5

Newborns can produce the rhythmic motions associated with walking and this eventually disappears this rhythmic motion comes back as bipedal walking after approximately 1` year of age.

Question 6

How is it possible for gait to be modified in response to obstacles?

Answer 6

Muscle spindles and Golgi Tendon Organs are powerful feedback tools in limbs which allow gait modification when stepping over obstacles.