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Kaiyrzhanov R, Ortigoza-Escobar JD, Stringer BW, Ganieva M, Gowda VK, Srinivasan VM, Macaya A, Laner A, Onbool E, Al-Shammari R, Al-Owain M, Deconinck N, Vilain C, Dontaine P, Self E, Akram R, Hussain G, Baig SM, Iqbal J, Salpietro V, Neshatdoust M, Kasiri M, Yesil G, Uygur T, Pysden K, Berry IR, Alves CA, Giacomotto J, Houlden H, Maroofian R. Clinical and Molecular Spectrum of Autosomal Recessive CA8-Related Cerebellar Ataxia. Mov Disord 2024; 39:983-995. [PMID: 38581205 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Based on a limited number of reported families, biallelic CA8 variants have currently been associated with a recessive neurological disorder named, cerebellar ataxia, mental retardation, and dysequilibrium syndrome 3 (CAMRQ-3). OBJECTIVES We aim to comprehensively investigate CA8-related disorders (CA8-RD) by reviewing existing literature and exploring neurological, neuroradiological, and molecular observations in a cohort of newly identified patients. METHODS We analyzed the phenotype of 27 affected individuals from 14 families with biallelic CA8 variants (including data from 15 newly identified patients from eight families), ages 4 to 35 years. Clinical, genetic, and radiological assessments were performed, and zebrafish models with ca8 knockout were used for functional analysis. RESULTS Patients exhibited varying degrees of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), along with predominantly progressive cerebellar ataxia and pyramidal signs and variable bradykinesia, dystonia, and sensory impairment. Quadrupedal gait was present in only 10 of 27 patients. Progressive selective cerebellar atrophy, predominantly affecting the superior vermis, was a key diagnostic finding in all patients. Seven novel homozygous CA8 variants were identified. Zebrafish models demonstrated impaired early neurodevelopment and motor behavior on ca8 knockout. CONCLUSION Our comprehensive analysis of phenotypic features indicates that CA8-RD exhibits a wide range of clinical manifestations, setting it apart from other subtypes within the category of CAMRQ. CA8-RD is characterized by cerebellar atrophy and should be recognized as part of the autosomal-recessive cerebellar ataxias associated with NDD. Notably, the presence of progressive superior vermis atrophy serves as a valuable diagnostic indicator. © 2024 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rauan Kaiyrzhanov
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Juan Darío Ortigoza-Escobar
- U-703 Centre for Biomedical Research on Rare Diseases (CIBER-ER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
- Movement Disorders Unit, Pediatric Neurology Department, Institut de Recerca, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- European Reference Network for Rare Neurological Diseases (ERN-RND), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Brett W Stringer
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Centre for Cellular Phenomics, School of Environment and Science Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Manizha Ganieva
- Avicenna Tajik State Medical University, Department of Neurology and Medical Genetics, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
| | - Vykuntaraju K Gowda
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, Bangalore, India
| | | | - Alfons Macaya
- European Reference Network for Rare Neurological Diseases (ERN-RND), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Enas Onbool
- Neurology department, King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital, Skaka Aljouf, Saudi Arabia
| | - Randa Al-Shammari
- Department of Medical Genomics, Centre for Genomic Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Al-Owain
- Department of Medical Genomics, Centre for Genomic Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nicolas Deconinck
- Centre de Référence des Maladies Neuromusculaires et Service de Neurologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Universitaire des Enfants Reine Fabiola (HUDERF), Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Catheline Vilain
- Department of Genetics, Hôpital Universitaire Reine Fabiola (HUDERF); Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pauline Dontaine
- Centre de Référence des Maladies Neuromusculaires et Service de Neurologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Universitaire des Enfants Reine Fabiola (HUDERF), Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Eleanor Self
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rabia Akram
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Neurochemical biology and Genetics Laboratory (NGL), Department of Physiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Ghulam Hussain
- Neurochemical biology and Genetics Laboratory (NGL), Department of Physiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Shahid Mahmood Baig
- Human Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Health Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) College, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Javed Iqbal
- Department of Neurology, Allied Hospital, Faisalabad Medical University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Vincenzo Salpietro
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maedeh Neshatdoust
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mahboubeh Kasiri
- School of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Gozde Yesil
- Department of Medical Genetics, Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Turkan Uygur
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Bezmialem Vakif University, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Karen Pysden
- Paediatric Neurology Department, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Ian R Berry
- Yorkshire and North East Genomic Laboratory Hub Central Laboratory, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Cesar Augusto Alves
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jean Giacomotto
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Centre for Cellular Phenomics, School of Environment and Science Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Henry Houlden
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Reza Maroofian
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Chakraborty U, Mukherjee A, Datta AK, Biswas A, Gangopadhyay G. A Rare Case of Uner Tan Syndrome With Incidentally Detected Choroid Plexus Papilloma. J Mov Disord 2024; 17:223-225. [PMID: 38123651 PMCID: PMC11082603 DOI: 10.14802/jmd.23192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Uddalak Chakraborty
- Department of Neurology, Bangur Institute of Neurosciences, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India
| | - Adreesh Mukherjee
- Department of Neurology, Bangur Institute of Neurosciences, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India
| | - Amlan Kusum Datta
- Department of Neurology, Bangur Institute of Neurosciences, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India
| | - Atanu Biswas
- Department of Neurology, Bangur Institute of Neurosciences, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India
| | - Goutam Gangopadhyay
- Department of Neurology, Bangur Institute of Neurosciences, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India
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Raslan IR, França MC, Oliveira JB, Schuurs-Hoeijmakers JHM, Pfundt R, Kok F, Barsottini OGP, Pedroso JL. Quadrupedal gait and cerebellar hypoplasia, the Uner Tan syndrome, caused by ITPR1 gene mutation. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2021; 92:33-35. [PMID: 34673285 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2021.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Rocha Raslan
- Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Rolph Pfundt
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Fernando Kok
- Department of Neurology, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - José Luiz Pedroso
- Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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Gallagher R, Perez S, DeLuca D, Kurtzer I. Anticipatory weight shift between arms when reaching from a crouched posture. J Neurophysiol 2021; 126:1361-1374. [PMID: 34525322 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00644.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Reaching movements performed from a crouched body posture require a shift of body weight from both arms to one arm. This situation has remained unexamined despite the analogous load requirements during step initiation and the many studies of reaching from a seated or standing posture. To determine whether the body weight shift involves anticipatory or exclusively reactive control, we obtained force plate records, hand kinematics, and arm muscle activity from 11 healthy right-handed participants. They performed reaching movements with their left and right arm in two speed contexts, "comfortable" and "as fast as possible," and two postural contexts, a less stable knees-together posture and a more stable knees-apart posture. Weight-shifts involved anticipatory postural actions (APAs) by the reaching and stance arms that were opposing in the vertical axis and aligned in the side-to-side axis similar to APAs by the legs for step initiation. Weight-shift APAs were correlated in time and magnitude, present in both speed contexts, more vigorous with the knees placed together, and similar when reaching with the dominant and nondominant arm. The initial weight-shift was preceded by bursts of muscle activity in the shoulder and elbow extensors (posterior deltoid and triceps lateral) of the reach arm and shoulder flexor (pectoralis major) of the stance arm, which indicates their causal role; leg muscles may have indirectly contributed but were not recorded. The strong functional similarity of weight-shift APAs during crouched reaching to human stepping and cat reaching suggests that they are a core feature of posture-movement coordination.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This work demonstrates that reaching from a crouched posture is preceded by bimanual anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) that shift the body weight to the stance limb. Weight-shift APAs are more robust in an unstable body posture (knees together) and involve the shoulder and elbow extensors of the reach arm and shoulder flexor of the stance arm. This pattern mirrors the forelimb coordination of cats reaching and humans initiating a step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosemary Gallagher
- Department of Physical Therapy, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, New York
| | - Stephanie Perez
- Department of Physical Therapy, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, New York
| | - Derek DeLuca
- Department of Physical Therapy, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, New York
| | - Isaac Kurtzer
- Department of Biomedical Science, New York Institute of Technology-College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York
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Steuer I, Guertin PA. Central pattern generators in the brainstem and spinal cord: an overview of basic principles, similarities and differences. Rev Neurosci 2019; 30:107-164. [PMID: 30543520 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2017-0102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Central pattern generators (CPGs) are generally defined as networks of neurons capable of enabling the production of central commands, specifically controlling stereotyped, rhythmic motor behaviors. Several CPGs localized in brainstem and spinal cord areas have been shown to underlie the expression of complex behaviors such as deglutition, mastication, respiration, defecation, micturition, ejaculation, and locomotion. Their pivotal roles have clearly been demonstrated although their organization and cellular properties remain incompletely characterized. In recent years, insightful findings about CPGs have been made mainly because (1) several complementary animal models were developed; (2) these models enabled a wide variety of techniques to be used and, hence, a plethora of characteristics to be discovered; and (3) organizations, functions, and cell properties across all models and species studied thus far were generally found to be well-preserved phylogenetically. This article aims at providing an overview for non-experts of the most important findings made on CPGs in in vivo animal models, in vitro preparations from invertebrate and vertebrate species as well as in primates. Data about CPG functions, adaptation, organization, and cellular properties will be summarized with a special attention paid to the network for locomotion given its advanced level of characterization compared with some of the other CPGs. Similarities and differences between these networks will also be highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inge Steuer
- Neuroscience Unit, Laval University Medical Center (CHUL - CHU de Québec), 2705 Laurier Blvd, Quebec City, Quebec G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Pierre A Guertin
- Neuroscience Unit, Laval University Medical Center (CHUL - CHU de Québec), 2705 Laurier Blvd, Quebec City, Quebec G1V 4G2, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec G1V 0A6, Canada
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Zehr EP, Barss TS, Dragert K, Frigon A, Vasudevan EV, Haridas C, Hundza S, Kaupp C, Klarner T, Klimstra M, Komiyama T, Loadman PM, Mezzarane RA, Nakajima T, Pearcey GEP, Sun Y. Neuromechanical interactions between the limbs during human locomotion: an evolutionary perspective with translation to rehabilitation. Exp Brain Res 2016; 234:3059-3081. [PMID: 27421291 PMCID: PMC5071371 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-016-4715-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
During bipedal locomotor activities, humans use elements of quadrupedal neuronal limb control. Evolutionary constraints can help inform the historical ancestry for preservation of these core control elements support transfer of the huge body of quadrupedal non-human animal literature to human rehabilitation. In particular, this has translational applications for neurological rehabilitation after neurotrauma where interlimb coordination is lost or compromised. The present state of the field supports including arm activity in addition to leg activity as a component of gait retraining after neurotrauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- E P Zehr
- Rehabilitation Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Victoria, PO Box 3010 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 3P1.
- Human Discovery Science, International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
| | - Trevor S Barss
- Rehabilitation Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Victoria, PO Box 3010 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 3P1
- Human Discovery Science, International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Katie Dragert
- Rehabilitation Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Victoria, PO Box 3010 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 3P1
| | - Alain Frigon
- Department of Pharmacology-physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Erin V Vasudevan
- Department of Physical Therapy, SUNY Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Carlos Haridas
- Rehabilitation Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Victoria, PO Box 3010 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 3P1
| | - Sandra Hundza
- Human Discovery Science, International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Motion and Mobility Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Chelsea Kaupp
- Rehabilitation Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Victoria, PO Box 3010 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 3P1
- Human Discovery Science, International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Taryn Klarner
- Rehabilitation Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Victoria, PO Box 3010 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 3P1
- Human Discovery Science, International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Marc Klimstra
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Motion and Mobility Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Tomoyoshi Komiyama
- Division of Sports and Health Science, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
- The United Graduate School of Education, Tokyo Gakugei University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Pamela M Loadman
- Rehabilitation Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Victoria, PO Box 3010 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 3P1
- Human Discovery Science, International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Rinaldo A Mezzarane
- Laboratory of Signal Processing and Motor Control, College of Physical Education, Universidade de Brasília-UnB, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Tsuyoshi Nakajima
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Gregory E P Pearcey
- Rehabilitation Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Victoria, PO Box 3010 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 3P1
- Human Discovery Science, International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Yao Sun
- Rehabilitation Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Victoria, PO Box 3010 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 3P1
- Human Discovery Science, International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
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7
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Tan U. Siblings in Kars, Turkey, with Uner Tan syndrome (quadrupedal locomotion, severe mental retardation, and no speech): a novel theory for the evolution of human bipedalism. Neurol Res 2014; 37:139-46. [PMID: 25082551 DOI: 10.1179/1743132814y.0000000433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate siblings from Kars (n = 2), Turkey, with diagonal-sequence quadrupedal locomotion (QL), severe mental retardation, and no speech (Uner Tan syndrome, UTS), in relation to the evolutionary emergence of human bipedal locomotion (BL). METHODS Video recordings were made to assess gaits. Brain MRI scanning was performed to visualize the cerebro-cerebellar malformations. Genome-wide association analyses were performed in venous blood samples. RESULTS One of the two men with UTS showed early-onset QL and late-onset BL without infantile hypotonia, the other consistent QL with infantile hypotonia. No homozygosity was found in the genetic analysis. The family lived under extremely poor socioeconomic conditions. CONCLUSIONS Low socioeconomic status may be a triggering factor for the epigenetic emergence of UTS. The neural networks responsible for the ancestral diagonal-sequence QL, evolutionarily preserved since about 400 MYA, may be selected during locomotor development, under the influence of self-organizing processes during pre- and postnatal periods. The diagonal-sequence QL induced ipsilateral limb interference in UTS cases as in nonhuman primates. To overcome this condition, our ancestors would prefer the attractor BL. This novel theory for the evolution of human bipedalism was evaluated in light of dynamical systems theory.
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Shapiro LJ, Cole WG, Young JW, Raichlen DA, Robinson SR, Adolph KE. Human quadrupeds, primate quadrupedalism, and Uner Tan Syndrome. PLoS One 2014; 9:e101758. [PMID: 25029457 PMCID: PMC4100729 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 06/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Since 2005, an extensive literature documents individuals from several families afflicted with "Uner Tan Syndrome (UTS)," a condition that in its most extreme form is characterized by cerebellar hypoplasia, loss of balance and coordination, impaired cognitive abilities, and habitual quadrupedal gait on hands and feet. Some researchers have interpreted habitual use of quadrupedalism by these individuals from an evolutionary perspective, suggesting that it represents an atavistic expression of our quadrupedal primate ancestry or "devolution." In support of this idea, individuals with "UTS" are said to use diagonal sequence quadrupedalism, a type of quadrupedal gait that distinguishes primates from most other mammals. Although the use of primate-like quadrupedal gait in humans would not be sufficient to support the conclusion of evolutionary "reversal," no quantitative gait analyses were presented to support this claim. Using standard gait analysis of 518 quadrupedal strides from video sequences of individuals with "UTS", we found that these humans almost exclusively used lateral sequence-not diagonal sequence-quadrupedal gaits. The quadrupedal gait of these individuals has therefore been erroneously described as primate-like, further weakening the "devolution" hypothesis. In fact, the quadrupedalism exhibited by individuals with UTS resembles that of healthy adult humans asked to walk quadrupedally in an experimental setting. We conclude that quadrupedalism in healthy adults or those with a physical disability can be explained using biomechanical principles rather than evolutionary assumptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liza J. Shapiro
- Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Whitney G. Cole
- Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Jesse W. Young
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, United States of America
| | - David A. Raichlen
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Scott R. Robinson
- Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Karen E. Adolph
- Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, New York, United States of America
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Ivanenko YP, Wright WG, St George RJ, Gurfinkel VS. Trunk orientation, stability, and quadrupedalism. Front Neurol 2013; 4:20. [PMID: 23504009 PMCID: PMC3596858 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2013.00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2012] [Accepted: 02/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Interesting cases of human quadrupedalism described by Tan and Colleagues (2005–2012) have attracted the attention of geneticists, neurologists, and anthropologists. Since his first publications in 2005, the main attention has focused on the genetic aspects of disorders that lead to quadrupedalism within an evolutionary framework. In recent years this area has undergone a convincing critique (Downey, 2010) and ended with a call “… to move in a different direction … away from thinking solely in terms of genetic abnormality and evolutionary atavism.” We consider quadrupedalism as a “natural experiment” that may contribute to our knowledge of the physiological mechanisms underlying our balance system and our tendency toward normal (upright) posture. Bipedalism necessitates a number of characteristics that distinguish us from our ancestors and present-day mammals, including: size and shape of the bones of the foot, structure of the axial and proximal musculature, and the orientation of the human body and head. In this review we address the results of experimental studies on the mechanisms that stabilize the body in healthy people, as well as how these mechanisms may be disturbed in various forms of clinical pathology. These disturbances are related primarily to automatic rather than voluntary control of posture and suggest that human quadrupedalism is a behavior that can result from adaptive processes triggered by disorders in postural tone and environmental cues. These results will serve as a starting point for comparing and contrasting bi- and quadrupedalism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y P Ivanenko
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, Santa Lucia Foundation Rome, Italy
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10
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MacLellan MJ, Ivanenko YP, Catavitello G, La Scaleia V, Lacquaniti F. Coupling of upper and lower limb pattern generators during human crawling at different arm/leg speed combinations. Exp Brain Res 2012; 225:217-25. [PMID: 23241905 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-012-3364-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2012] [Accepted: 11/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A crawling paradigm was performed by healthy adults to examine inter-limb coupling patterns and to understand how central pattern generators (CPGs) for the upper and lower limbs are coordinated. Ten participants performed hands-and-feet crawling on two separate treadmills, one for the upper limbs and another one for the lower limbs, the speed of each of them being changed independently. A 1:1 frequency relationship was often maintained even when the treadmill speed was not matched between the upper and lower limbs. However, relative stance durations in the upper limbs were only affected by changes of the upper limb treadmill speed, suggesting that although absolute times are adjusted, the relative proportions of stances and swing do not adapt to changes in lower limb treadmill speeds. With large differences between treadmill speeds, changes in upper and lower limb coupling ratio tended to occur when the upper limbs stepped at slower speeds than the lower limbs, but more rarely the other way around. These findings are in sharp contrast with those in the cat, where forelimbs always follow the rhythm of the faster moving hindlimbs. However, the fact that an integer frequency ratio is often maintained between the upper and lower limbs supports evidence of coupled CPG control. We speculate that the preference for the upper limb to decrease step frequency at lower speeds in humans may be due to weaker ascending propriospinal connections and/or a larger influence of cortical control on the upper limbs which allows for an overriding of spinal CPG control.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J MacLellan
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy.
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11
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Maclellan MJ, Ivanenko YP, Cappellini G, Sylos Labini F, Lacquaniti F. Features of hand-foot crawling behavior in human adults. J Neurophysiol 2011; 107:114-25. [PMID: 21975454 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00693.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Interlimb coordination of crawling kinematics in humans shares features with other primates and nonprimate quadrupeds, and it has been suggested that this is due to a similar organization of the locomotor pattern generators (CPGs). To extend the previous findings and to further explore the neural control of bipedal vs. quadrupedal locomotion, we used a crawling paradigm in which healthy adults crawled on their hands and feet at different speeds and at different surface inclinations (13°, 27°, and 35°). Ground reaction forces, limb kinematics, and electromyographic (EMG) activity from 26 upper and lower limb muscles on the right side of the body were collected. The EMG activity was mapped onto the spinal cord in approximate rostrocaudal locations of the motoneuron pools to characterize the general features of cervical and lumbosacral spinal cord activation. The spatiotemporal pattern of spinal cord activity significantly differed between quadrupedal and bipedal gaits. In addition, participants exhibited a large range of kinematic coordination styles (diagonal vs. lateral patterns), which is in contrast to the stereotypical kinematics of upright bipedal walking, suggesting flexible coupling of cervical and lumbosacral pattern generators. Results showed strikingly dissimilar directional horizontal forces for the arms and legs, considerably retracted average leg orientation, and substantially smaller sacral vs. lumbar motoneuron activity compared with quadrupedal gait in animals. A gradual transition to a more vertical body orientation (increasing the inclination of the treadmill) led to the appearance of more prominent sacral activity (related to activation of ankle plantar flexors), typical of bipedal walking. The findings highlight the reorganization and adaptation of CPG networks involved in the control of quadrupedal human locomotion and a high specialization of the musculoskeletal apparatus to specific gaits.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Maclellan
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 306 via Ardeatina, 00179 Rome, Italy.
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Kinematics of obstacle clearance in the rat. Behav Brain Res 2011; 224:241-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2010] [Revised: 05/20/2011] [Accepted: 05/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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