This research investigates how locomotor synergies change during development and training by studying running in preschoolers and diverse adults, from sedentary individuals to elite marathoners (63 subjects total). During development, synergies fractionate into units with fewer muscles. Adult training leads to synergy merging, with specific merging patterns correlating with enhanced or reduced running efficiency. Fractionation and merging are proposed as mechanisms for adapting early motor modules to changing limb biomechanics and sensorimotor training.
Publisher
Nature Communications
Published On
Aug 31, 2020
Authors
Vincent C. K. Cheung, Ben M. F. Cheung, Janet H. Zhang, Zoe Y. S. Chan, Sophia C. W. Ha, Chao-Ying Chen, Roy T. H. Cheung
Tags
locomotor synergies
development
training
running efficiency
muscle coordination
sensorimotor training
biomechanics
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