A Look at an Old but Still Current Problem

Heymans, C

doi:10.1146/annurev.ph.25.030163.000245

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…One possibility is that the cerebellum is only involved in adjusting for kinematic prediction errors and the observed reduction in energy expenditure is simply a byproduct of this process. Other possibilities require the cerebellum to have access to some estimate of effort or energy expenditure, which could be provided using a combination of somatosensory feedback (Sanes & Shadmehr, 1995), afferent feedback from chemoreceptors (Heymans, 1963;Gestreau et al 2010) or an efference copy of motor commands (Miall et al 1993). Thus, the cerebellum could be used to minimize the error between the expected effort needed to walk at the perceived speed and the effort sensed through central and peripheral signals.…”

Section: Reducing Metabolic Power: a Goal Or A Byproduct Of Adaptation?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Learning to be economical: the energy cost of walking tracks motor adaptation

Finley

Bastian

Gottschall

2013

The Journal of Physiology

189

238

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Key points• Neuroscientists often suggest that we adapt our movements to minimize energy use; however, recent studies have provided conflicting evidence in this regard.• In the present study, we show that motor learning robustly increases the economy of locomotion during split-belt treadmill adaptation.• We also demonstrate that reductions in metabolic power scale with the magnitude of adaptation and are also associated with a reduction in muscle activity throughout the lower limbs.• Our results provide strong evidence that increasing economy may be a key criterion driving the systematic changes in co-ordination during locomotor adaptation.• These findings may also facilitate the design of novel interventions to improve locomotor learning in stroke survivors.Abstract Many theories of motor control suggest that we select our movements to reduce energy use. However, it is unclear whether this process underlies short-term motor adaptation to novel environments. Here we asked whether adaptation to walking on a split-belt treadmill leads to a more economical walking pattern. We hypothesized that adaptation would be accompanied by a reduction in metabolic power and muscle activity and that these reductions would be temporally correlated. Eleven individuals performed a split-belt adaptation task where the belt speeds were set at 0.5 and 1.5 m s −1 . Adaptation was characterized by step length symmetry, which is the normalized difference in step length between the legs. Metabolic power was calculated based on expired gas analysis, and surface EMG was used to record the activity of four bilateral leg muscles (tibialis anterior, lateral gastrocnemius, vastus lateralis and biceps femoris). All participants initially walked with unequal step lengths when the belts moved at different speeds, but gradually adapted to take steps of equal length. Additionally, net metabolic power was reduced from early adaptation to late adaptation (early, 3.78 ± 1.05 W kg −1 ; and late, 3.05 ± 0.79 W kg −1 ; P < 0.001). This reduction in power was also accompanied by a bilateral reduction in EMG throughout the gait cycle. Furthermore, the reductions in metabolic power occurred over the same time scale as the improvements in step length symmetry, and the magnitude of these improvements predicted the size of the reduction in metabolic power. Our results suggest that increasing economy may be a key criterion driving locomotor adaptation.

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Section: Reducing Metabolic Power: a Goal Or A Byproduct Of Adaptation?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Learning to be economical: the energy cost of walking tracks motor adaptation

Finley

Bastian

Gottschall

2013

The Journal of Physiology

189

238

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“…Despite the fact that the institute flourished after the war and attracted an increasing number of Belgian and foreign researchers, the University did not create a new tenure research position for Corneel Heymans. The difficulties in obtaining a permanent position at Ghent University turned out to be a blessing since they had spared the young Heymans from the inevitable administrative and other obligations that come with the direction of a lab and so gave him ample time to visit and work abroad (Heymans, 1963b). The paternalistic attitude of Jan Frans Heymans, however, did not spare his son.…”

Section: The Father the Son And The Laboratorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Dogs and Coca-Cola: Commemorative Practices as part of Laboratory Culture at the Heymans Institute Ghent, 1902-1970

Bosstraeten¹

2011

Centaurus

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This article investigates the different dimensions and the attributed meaning of commemoration as essential parts of laboratory culture. Rather than a historical ethnography of commemorative rites, commemoration is studied as a genuine component of laboratory life. The case study focuses on the Heymans Institute of Ghent University, Belgium, from 1902 to 1970. Using the categories celebrations, publications and iconography it will become clear that the Heymans lab and by extension many other laboratories performed a multitude of commemorative practices all with their specific function both inside and outside the lab. Not only public celebrations for the successful laboratory director, but also, for example, birthday parties are taken into account. How did these practices evolve throughout time? What images did they convey and what did they mean for the laboratory? The answer to the questions in hand will contribute to a further understanding not only of the concept of commemorative practices but also of laboratory life and ‐ culture in general.

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A Belated Centennial Tribute to Corneille Heymans

Breathnach

1994

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology

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A Look at an Old but Still Current Problem

Abstract: Annu. Rev. Physiol. 1963.25:1-16

Cited by 8 publications

References 17 publications

Learning to be economical: the energy cost of walking tracks motor adaptation

Learning to be economical: the energy cost of walking tracks motor adaptation

Dogs and Coca-Cola: Commemorative Practices as part of Laboratory Culture at the Heymans Institute Ghent, 1902-1970

A Belated Centennial Tribute to Corneille Heymans

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