Mode-dependent control of human walking and running as revealed by split-belt locomotor adaptation

ABSTRACT Here, we investigate the association of neural control between walking and running, and in particular, how these two gait modes at different velocities are controlled by the central nervous system. The subjects were fully adapted by acquiring modified motor patterns to either walk or run on a split-belt treadmill driven in split mode (asymmetry in the velocities of two belts at 1.0 and 2.0 m s−1). Subsequently, we tested how the adaptation affected walking and running at three different velocities in the tied mode (equal belt velocities). At 0.75 m s−1, we found a preference to walk, at 1.50 m s−1, there was a preference to both walk and run, and at a velocity of 2.25 m s−1 there was a preference to run. Both walking and running on the split belt resulted in the emergence of a significant aftereffect (asymmetrical movement) at all of the velocities tested when walking after adapting to walk and running after adapting to run. However, for contrasting modes (i.e. running after adapting to walk and walking after adapting to run), such aftereffects were far less evident at all velocities; thus showing only limited transfer across gait modes. The results demonstrate a clear mode dependency in the neural control of human walking and running. In addition, only for walking, was there a degree of velocity dependency. Summary: Walking and running are not simply dependent on velocity, but are controlled by the CNS as two completely distinct forms of locomotion in humans.