Perception--action coupling model for human locomotor pointing

Biol Cybern. 2002 Aug;87(2):141-50. doi: 10.1007/s00422-002-0325-2.

Abstract

How do humans achieve the precise positioning of the feet during walking, for example, to reach the first step of a stairway? We addressed this question at the visuomotor integration level. Based on the optical specification of the required adaptation, a dynamical system model of the visuomotor control of human locomotor pointing was devised for the positioning of a foot on a visible target on the floor during walking. Visuomotor integration consists of directly linking optical information to a motor command that specifically modulates step length in accordance with the ongoing dynamics of locomotor pattern generation. The adaptation of locomotion emerges from a perception-action coupling type of control based on temporal information rather than on feedforward planning of movements. The proposed model reproduces experimental results obtained for human locomotor pointing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Foot / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Models, Psychological*
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology*
  • Walking / physiology*