Question

1. Discuss how relative time characteristics of human walking and running gaits are explained by (a) motor program-based theory and (b) dynamical systems theory.

Answer 1

Motor program theory – the relative time structure of a coordination pattern distinguishes one generalized motor program from another.

i.Because walking and running gaits are characterized by different relative time structures, they are controlled by different generalized motor programs

ii.The walk-to-run gait pattern change occurs at a certain speed because the person chooses to change from the program that controls walking to the program that controls running

b.Dynamic pattern theory – interlimb and body coordination pattern self-organize as a function of specific control parameter values and environmental conditions

i.For walking and running gait patterns, speed is critical control parameterb.

ii.The walk-to-run gait transition involves competition between two attractors.

iii.At slow speeds, the primary attractor state is a walking coordination pattern.

iv.As walking speed increases, there is a certain range of speeds at which this attractor state loses stability, meaning that for this range of speeds, the walking pattern undergoes some change as a running coordination pattern self-organizes and eventually becomes the stable attractor state for gait at a certain speed