Kinematic analysis of the different types of locomotor movement in rats after deafferentation

: Comparative analysis of kinematics of rat hindlimb movements during different kind of locomotion (swimming, walking, hindlimb swimming but forelimb walking) was performed. After deafferentation an increase of the locomotor rhythm frequency and a decrease of the movement amplitude of hindlimb joints were common features for all kinds of the locomotion. This indicates that the above parameters of locomotor movements were formed by afferent influences. A decrease of the movement amplitude and of the EMG activity which were evoked after deafferentation were minimal for swimming and maximal for walking. The role of afferent influences in formation of different locomotion patterns is discussed.