Development of Locomotor-Related Movements in Early Infancy

Arthur H Dewolf; Francesca Sylos Labini; Yury Ivanenko; Francesco Lacquaniti

doi:10.3389/fncel.2020.623759

Development of Locomotor-Related Movements in Early Infancy

Front Cell Neurosci. 2021 Jan 21:14:623759. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2020.623759. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Arthur H Dewolf¹, Francesca Sylos Labini², Yury Ivanenko², Francesco Lacquaniti^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Systems Medicine, Center of Space Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
² Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.

Abstract

This mini-review focuses on the emergence of locomotor-related movements in early infancy. In particular, we consider multiples precursor behaviors of locomotion as a manifestation of the development of the neuronal networks and their link in the establishment of precocious locomotor skills. Despite the large variability of motor behavior observed in human babies, as in animals, afferent information is already processed to shape the behavior to specific situations and environments. Specifically, we argue that the closed-loop interaction between the neural output and the physical dynamics of the mechanical system should be considered to explore the complexity and flexibility of pattern generation in human and animal neonates.

Keywords: complexity and flexibility of CPGs; early development of locomotion; early responsiveness; locomotor precursors; sensory modulation of movement.