Increasing the gradient of energetic cost does not initiate adaptation in human walking

Abstract

People can adapt to novel conditions but often require cues to initiate the adaptation. Using a mechatronic system to reshape energetic cost gradients during treadmill walking, we tested whether the nervous system can use information present in the cost gradient to spontaneously initiate adaptation. We found that our participants did not spontaneously initiate adaptation even in the steepest gradient. The nervous system does not rely solely on the cost gradient when initiating adaptation.