A note on modulations and structuring of locomotion in children and adults

The aim of this study was to investigate the modulations of locomotion induced by a rhythmic cognitive task (counting one's steps). Subjects (6- and 8-year-olds and adults) were requested to walk freely, and then to walk while counting their steps. Here a decrease in cadence values was observed in children only, with quasi-total repercussions on velocity at the age of 6 only. The spatiotemporal structuring of locomotion described here is already present at 6 years of age and is not altered in the step-counting situation: strong links were observed between cadence and velocity, and between stride length and velocity, and weak links between cadence and stride length.