Citation

Lacquaniti F, Ivanenko YP, Zago M. Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. 2012; 22(5): 822-828.

Affiliation

Department of Systems Medicine, Neuroscience Section, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; Centre of Space Bio-medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Orazio Raimondo 1, 00173 Rome, Italy; Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.conb.2012.03.012

PMID

22498713

Abstract

Neural control of locomotion in human adults involves the generation of a small set of basic patterned commands directed to the leg muscles. The commands are generated sequentially in time during each step by neural networks located in the spinal cord, called Central Pattern Generators. This review outlines recent advances in understanding how motor commands are expressed at different stages of human development. Similar commands are found in several other vertebrates, indicating that locomotion development follows common principles of organization of the control networks. Movements show a high degree of flexibility at all stages of development, which is instrumental for learning and exploration of variable interactions with the environment.

Language: en