Neuroscience 2004 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 415.14 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Adaptation during split-belt walking in children with hemispherectomy. |
| Authors: |
Choi, J. T.*1
; Vining, E. P.2
; Kraut, M. A.3
; Bastian, A. J.2,4
1Dept Biomed Eng, Johns Hopkins Univ, Baltimore, MD 2Dept Neurol, Johns Hopkins Univ, Baltimore, MD 3Dept Radiology, Johns Hopkins Univ, Baltimore, MD 4MD, 720 Rutland Ave, 21205, |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Motor Systems - Kinematics and EMG -- Locomotion |
| Session: |
415. Movement and Locomotion II Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Monday, October 25, 2004 9:00 AM-10:00 AM |
| Location: | San Diego Convention Center - Hall A-H, Board # W21 |
| Keywords: | WALKING, LEARNING, CEREBRAL CORTEX, HUMAN |
During walking, our legs are precisely coordinated to maintain a specific phase relationship and pattern of joint motion. In a companion study (Reisman et al. SFN 2004), we show that healthy adults adapt their walking pattern to account for a disruption in inter-limb coordination imposed by a split-belt treadmill. Specifically, some walking parameters change quickly with no training after-effects (e.g. stance times), while others adapt slowly and show strong negative after-effects (e.g. limb phasing). Here, we aimed to answer whether the integrity of the cerebral cortex is required for these adaptive changes. We studied nine children between age 6 and 18 with hemispherectomy (surgical removal of one cerebral hemisphere for intractable seizure disorders) and age-matched controls. Subjects walked with belts tied at fast and slow speeds, and then adapted to split belt walking for 10 minutes with their hemiplegic leg moving twice as fast as the other leg. After-effects were determined by comparing their walking pattern on tied treadmill belts before and after training. Control children made rapid and slow adaptive changes similar to adults and showed appropriate negative after-effects. Patients made rapid and some slow adaptive changes during training, and half of them had negative after-effects similar to controls. Patients who showed after-effects had surgery at a younger age than those that did not. Other variables, including somatosensory deficits, neglect, and initial walking asymmetry, were not different between the patient subgroups. In sum, we find that some children can adapt inter-limb coordination during walking even after one entire cerebral hemisphere is removed, but their learning seems to be affected by their age at surgery.
Supported by NIH grant HD40289
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2004 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2004. Online.
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