Locomotion speed provides important social information about an individual's fitness, mood and intent. Visual estimation of locomotion speed is a complex task for the visual system because viewing distance must be taken into account, and the estimate has to be calibrated by recent experience of typical speeds. Little is known about how locomotion speed judgements are made. Previous research indicates that the human visual system possesses neurons that respond specifically to moving human forms. This research used point-light walker (PLW) displays that are known to activate these cells, in order to investigate the process mediating locomotion speed judgements. The results of three adaptation experiments show that these judgements involve both a low-level sensory component and a high-level decision component. A simple theoretical scheme is proposed, in which neurons sensitive to image flicker rate (temporal frequency) provide a sensory speed code, and a benchmark 'norm' value of the speed code, based on prevailing locomotion speeds, is used to make decisions about objective speed. The output of a simple computational model of the scheme successfully captured variations in locomotion speed in the stimuli used in the experiments. The theory offers a biologically-motivated account of how locomotion speed can be visually estimated.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-30230-1 | DOI Listing |
PLoS One
January 2025
Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Science, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland.
The purpose of this study was to determine the effective warm-up protocol using an added respiratory dead space (ARDS) 1200 ml volume mask to determine hypercapnic conditions, on the swimming velocity of the 50 m time trial front crawl. Eight male members of the university swimming team, aged 19-25, performed three different warm-up protocols: 1) standardized warm-up in water (WUCON); 2) hypercapnic warm-up in water (WUARDS); 3) hypercapnic a 20-minute transition phase on land, between warm-up in water and swimming test (RE-WUARDS). The three warm-up protocols were implemented in random order every 7th day.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAging Clin Exp Res
January 2025
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
Background: Falls on stairs are a major cause of severe injuries among older adults, with stair descent posing significantly greater risks than ascent. Variations in stair descent phenotypes may reflect differences in physical function and biomechanical stability, and their identification may prevent falls.
Aims: This study aims to classify stair descent phenotypes in older adults and investigate the biomechanical and physical functional differences between these phenotypes using hierarchical cluster analysis.
J Exp Zool A Ecol Integr Physiol
January 2025
Institute of Systems Neuroscience, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Artificial light sources, particularly blue light, have raised concerns about their impact on biological health and behavior. In this study, we explored the effects of blue light on the locomotion and cognitive functions of early adult Drosophila melanogaster. Our experiments were conducted in a custom-designed behavioral arena to assess how blue light influences these parameters.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Strength Cond Res
February 2025
MilanLab Research Department, A.C. Milan S.p.A., Milan, Italy.
Riboli, A, Nardi, F, Osti, M, Cefis, M, Tesoro, G, and Mazzoni, S. Training load, official match locomotor demand, and their association in top-class soccer players during a full competitive season. J Strength Cond Res 39(2): 249-259, 2025-To examine training load and official match locomotor demands of top-class soccer players during a full competitive season and to evaluate their association.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActa Bioeng Biomech
June 2024
1Physical Therapy Course, Faculty of Welfare and Health Science, Oita University, Japan.
: This study aimed to quantify multi-segmental coordination using Uncontrolled Manifold (UCM) analysis to examine the effect of speed reduction on the control of stair descent. : Twenty healthy participants performed stair descent at a self-comfortable pace for normal speed conditions and at a slow speed set to a metronome rhythm of 60 beats/min. UCM analysis was separately conducted for the center of mass (COM) and swing foot, with anteroposterior and vertical movements designated as task variables, and segment angles defined as elemental variables.
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