Daniel Perry Ferris

Our results demonstrate that for young, neurotypical adults, gradual adaptation to a slowly changing belt speed ratio when walking on a split-belt treadmill elicits changes in neural oscillations even though participants never experience large stepping errors (as measured by step length asymmetry).

Human visuomotor control requires coordinated interhemispheric interactions to exploit the brain's functional lateralization. In right-handed individuals, the left hemisphere (right arm) is better for dynamic control and the right hemisphere (left arm) is better for impedance control. Table tennis is a game that requires precise movements of the paddle, whole body coordination, and cognitive engagement, providing an ecologically valid way to study visuomotor integration.

Discussion Contrary to our hypothesis, we did not find a reduction in the cost of transport when walking with the exoskeleton powered either inside or outside. During the indoor trials there was a nonsignificant increase in cost of transport from the boots only condition compared to both the Unpowered and Powered exoskeleton conditions.