Journal
FRONTIERS IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE
Volume 7, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
DOI: 10.3389/fncom.2013.00014
Keywords
flexion reflex; local sign; reflex modules; synergy; central pattern generator; gait; forward model
Funding
- KU Leuven [OT/08/034, IDO/07/012]
- Research Foundation Flanders [G.0901.11]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Recently there has been a growing interest in the modular organization of leg movements, in particular those related to locomotion. One of the basic modules involves the flexi on of the leg durings wing and it was shown that this moduleis already present in neonates(Dominici et al., 2011). In this paper, we question how these finding build upon the orginal work by Sherrington, who proposed that the flexor reflex is the basic building block of flexion during swing phase. Similarly, the relation between the flexor reflex and the withdrawal reflex modules of Schouenborg and Weng (1994) will be discussed. It will be argued that there is large overlap between these notions on modules and the older concepts of reflexes. In addition, it will be shown that there is a great flexibility in the expression of some of these modules during gait, thereby allowing for a phase-dependent modulation of the appropriate responses. In particular, that this is linked to the activation fo circuitry that is responsible for the generation of locomotro patterns (CPG, central pattern generator). More specifically, it is suggested that the responses in that period relate to the activation of a aflexor burst generator. The latter structure forms the core of a new asymmetric model of the CPG. This activation is controlled by afferent input (facilitation by a broad range of afferents, suppression by load afferent input). Meanwhile, many of these physiologic features have found their way in control of very flexible walking bipedal robots.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available