MODELING THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF BIPEDAL LOCOMOTION - A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

In this article a research agenda is presented regarding the developme nt of human bipedal locomotion. After identification of (interactions between) subsystems thought to underlay stable locomotion, a methodolo gy is suggested for investigating their importance for development. As a number of the identified subsystems cannot be manipulated experimen tally, it is proposed to combine experimental and modelling/simulation studies. Regarding the latter, we propose to start out by devising a model that can generate stable adult locomotion. Subsequently, this mo del should be manipulated in order to obtain the ''time inverse'' of t he normal developmental events. It is argued that through systematic v ariation of parameter values and/or the structure of the model, insigh t can be gained into the relative importance of these (interactions be tween) subsystems in different phases of the development of locomotion .