Implicit visual distortion modulates human gait

We are investigating different adaptive strategies for training with the MIT-Skywalker, a novel robotic device for gait training. In this paper, we describe our studies on an implicit “visual distortion” paradigm and demonstrate its potential on a set of experiments with healthy subjects. Our results suggest that a gradual distortion of visual feedback of step symmetry, during a treadmill walking exercise, induced changes away from symmetry. This implies a contribution of supraspinal brain circuitry for the control of gait and that a therapeutic program which includes a visual feedback distortion without any explicit knowledge of the manipulation may provide an effective way to help patients correct gait patterns; it is one of the potential manipulations of our adaptive algorithm during gait training.