We Are Upright-Walking Cats: Human Limbs as Sensory Antennae During Locomotion

Physiology (Bethesda). 2019 Sep 1;34(5):354-364. doi: 10.1152/physiol.00008.2019.

Abstract

Humans and cats share many characteristics pertaining to the neural control of locomotion, which has enabled the comprehensive study of cutaneous feedback during locomotion. Feedback from discrete skin regions on both surfaces of the human foot has revealed that neuromechanical responses are highly topographically organized and contribute to "sensory guidance" of our limbs during locomotion.

Keywords: cutaneous reflex; locomotion; neural control; sensory feedback; walking.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Extremities / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Locomotion / physiology*
  • Reflex / physiology
  • Skin / physiopathology
  • Walking / physiology*