Uncovering the structure of the mouse gait controller: mice respond to substrate perturbations with adaptations in gait on a continuum between trot and bound

Animals, including humans, have been shown to maintain a gait during locomotion that minimizes the risk of injury and energetic cost. Despite the importance of understanding the mechanisms of gait regulation, ethical and experimental challenges have prevented full exploration of these. Here we present data on the gait response of mice to rapid, precisely timed, spatially confined mechanical perturbations. Our data elucidate that after the mechanical perturbation, the mouse gait response is anisotropic, preferring deviations away from the trot towards bounding, over those towards other gaits, such as walk or pace.

Source: Journal of Biomechanics - July 17, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: A. Vahedipour, O. Haji Maghsoudi, S. Wilshin, P. Shamble, B. Robertson, A. Spence Source Type: research