QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s):
Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Johnston, R. Articles by Bekoff, A Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Johnston, R. Articles by Bekoff, A

Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol 171, Issue 1 43-66, Copyright © 1992 by Company of Biologists

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Constrained and flexible features of rhythmical hindlimb movements in chicks: kinematic profiles of walking, swimming and airstepping

RM Johnston and A Bekoff
Department of EPO Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309.

Although studies of walking have generated many of the principles for motor control, walking is but one of the many behaviors that an animal produces. This study investigates the relationships among the kinematic profiles of three behaviors in chicks: walking, swimming and airstepping. In addition to describing features of the hindlimb movements, such as retraction and protraction, we also examined the intra- and interjoint coordination patterns at the hip, knee and ankle. By using multiple levels of analysis, we identified some features that are common to all three behaviors, and therefore appear to be constrained, as well as some dissimilar or flexible features. Specifically, we show that resistance differentially affects the hip, knee and ankle joints. Our results also show that each joint plays a distinctive role in these behaviors. For example, we suggest that the hip stabilizes the hindlimb and regulates the rhythmicity of its movements. We also show that movement at the knee consistently precedes movement at the other joints in each behavior. Finally, differences in ankle movements are the key features that discriminate one behavior from another. Continuity among prenatal, perinatal and postnatal behaviors in chicks is discussed.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Rubenson, D. G. Lloyd, T. F. Besier, D. B. Heliams, and P. A. Fournier Running in ostriches (Struthio camelus): three-dimensional joint axes alignment and joint kinematics J. Exp. Biol., July 15, 2007; 210(14): 2548 - 2562. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. E. Musselman and J. F. Yang Loading the Limb During Rhythmic Leg Movements Lengthens the Duration of Both Flexion and Extension in Human Infants J Neurophysiol, February 1, 2007; 97(2): 1247 - 1257. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M. Gatesy and D. B. Baier The origin of the avian flight stroke: a kinematic and kinetic perspective Paleobiology, September 1, 2005; 31(3): 382 - 399. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. S. Bradley and D. Y. Jahng Selective Effects of Light Exposure on Distribution of Motility in the Chick Embryo at E18 J Neurophysiol, September 1, 2003; 90(3): 1408 - 1417. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M Verstappen, P Aerts, and R Van Damme Terrestrial locomotion in the black-billed magpie: kinematic analysis of walking, running and out-of-phase hopping J. Exp. Biol., January 7, 2000; 203(14): 2159 - 2170. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. A. Sharp, E. Ma, and A. Bekoff Developmental Changes in Leg Coordination of the Chick at Embryonic Days 9, 11, and 13: Uncoupling of Ankle Movements J Neurophysiol, November 1, 1999; 82(5): 2406 - 2414. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Ashley-Ross and G. V. Lauder Motor Patterns and Kinematics During Backward Walking in the Pacific Giant Salamander: Evidence for Novel Motor Output J Neurophysiol, December 1, 1997; 78(6): 3047 - 3060. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]