Similarities in modular control structures across varying locomotion tasks

Understanding the mechanisms underlying human locomotion is a central question in biomechanical and motor control research. In this study, similarities in the modular control structure of different gait forms are examined. Results show for specific coordinative structures (e.g. anterior/ posterior swing of legs and arms) a strong relationship (cosine similarity > 0.84) between straight walking, walking turns and stair walking. Our findings indicate that the movement control mechanisms can benefit from a flexible combination of basic modules for a range of locomotion tasks.