Peripheral visual cues affect minimum-foot-clearance during overground locomotion
Graci, Valentina
Graci, Valentina
Publication Date
2009-10
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closedAccess
Accepted for publication
22/06/2009
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Abstract
The importance of peripheral visual cues in the control of minimum-foot-clearance during overground
locomotion on a clear path was investigated. Eleven subjects walked at their natural speed whilst
wearing goggles providing four different visual conditions: upper occlusion, lower occlusion,
circumferential–peripheral occlusion and full vision. Results showed that under circumferential–
peripheral occlusion, subjects were more cautious and increased minimum-foot-clearance and
decreased walking speed and step length. The minimum-foot-clearance increase can be interpreted
as a motor control strategy aiming to safely clear the ground when online visual exproprioceptive cues
from the body are not available. The lack of minimum-foot-clearance increase in lower occlusion
suggests that the view of a clear pathway from beyond two steps combined with visual exproprioception
and optic flow in the upper field were adequate to guide gait. A suggested accompanying safety strategy
of reducing the amount of variability of minimum-foot-clearance under circumferential–peripheral
occlusion conditions was not found, likely due to the lack of online visual exproprioceptive cues provided
by the peripheral visual field for fine-tuning foot trajectory.
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Citation
Graci V, Elliott DB and Buckley JG (2009) Peripheral visual cues affect minimum-foot-clearance during overground locomotion. Gait and Posture. 30(3): 370-374.
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Article