Simultaneous control of forward and backward locomotion by spinal sensorimotor circuits

Author:

Audet Johannie1,Lecomte Charly G.1,Harnie Jonathan1,Yassine Sirine1,Al Arab Rasha1,Soucy Félix1,Morency Caroline1,Mari Stephen1,Jéhannin Pierre1,Merlet Angèle N.1,Frigon Alain1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Department of Pharmacology‐Physiology Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke Quebec Canada

Abstract

AbstractMammals walk in different directions, such as forward and backward. In human infants/adults and decerebrate cats, one leg can walk forward and the other backward simultaneously on a split‐belt treadmill, termed hybrid or bidirectional locomotion. The purpose of the present study was to determine if spinal sensorimotor circuits generate hybrid locomotion and if so, how the limbs remain coordinated. We tested hybrid locomotion in 11 intact cats and in five following complete spinal thoracic transection (spinal cats) at three treadmill speeds with the hindlimbs moving forward, backward or bidirectionally. All intact cats generated hybrid locomotion with the forelimbs on a stationary platform. Four of five spinal cats generated hybrid locomotion, also with the forelimbs on a stationary platform, but required perineal stimulation. During hybrid locomotion, intact and spinal cats positioned their forward and backward moving hindlimbs caudal and rostral to the hip, respectively. The hindlimbs maintained consistent left–right out‐of‐phase alternation in the different stepping directions. Our results suggest that spinal locomotor networks generate hybrid locomotion by following certain rules at phase transitions. We also found that stance duration determined cycle duration in the different locomotor directions/conditions, consistent with a common rhythm‐generating mechanism for different locomotor directions. Our findings provide additional insight on how left–right spinal networks and sensory feedback from the limbs interact to coordinate the hindlimbs and provide stability during locomotion in different directions. imageKey points Terrestrial mammals can walk forward and backward, which is controlled in part by spinal sensorimotor circuits. Humans and cats also perform bidirectional or hybrid locomotion on a split‐belt treadmill with one leg going forward and the other going backward. We show that cats with a spinal transection can perform hybrid locomotion and maintain left–right out‐of‐phase coordination, indicating that spinal sensorimotor circuits can perform simultaneous forward and backward locomotion. We also show that the regulation of cycle duration and phase duration is conserved across stepping direction, consistent with a common rhythm‐generating mechanism for different stepping directions. The results help us better understand how spinal networks controlling the left and right legs enable locomotion in different directions.

Funder

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

Publisher

Wiley

Subject

Physiology

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