Title: Supraspinal Integration of Proprioception: A Crucial Factor in Homolateral Leg Coordination

Speaker: Araz Dolatkhah, PhD Student, Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University

Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm  

Location: Theatre C, Tupper Building

Description: Safe and efficient locomotion relies on placing the foot on a reliable surface at the end of each leg swing movement. In humans, vision plays a key role in guiding foot placement during walking, especially when precise steps are needed to maintain balance and avoid obstacles. However, in quadrupedal animals like mice, the hind limbs often fall outside of the visual field, making it unclear how precise foot placement is achieved. My project investigates whether proprioceptive feedback from the forelimb helps guide the placement of the hind limb during locomotion. I am specifically testing whether this coordination depends on sensory input from muscle spindles and whether supraspinal involvement is required, or if spinal circuits alone are sufficient. The aim is to uncover the mechanisms that support coordinated and stable movement in quadrupedal locomotion, particularly when the system is challenged by sudden disturbances.