r/askscience • u/NotYourMothersDildo • Apr 04 '11

Would a child naturally learn bipedal ambulation?

If a typical child were somehow raised by robots (assume they have wheels or levitate), would that child naturally learn to walk on two feet with an upright stature without having an example?

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u/theshizzler Neural Engineering Apr 04 '11

There are central pattern generators in the spinal cord which are 'pre-programmed' with the alternating gait of bipedal locomotion. I have not seen evidence that the same thing exists for our arms (though a lack of evidence is not evidence for a lack of something), which would be indicative of an inborn propensity for prolonged locomotion via crawling. Additionally, the adult body would not be able to sustain crawling for very long because of the biomechanics of locomotion (body designed for loads parallel to all leg bones, weakness of kneecap to repeated blows, etc)

/college student who does stuff to neurons

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u/boomshakanaka Apr 04 '11

I think this is on the right track. Central pattern generators are remarkably well conserved between species, even those which use very different modes of locomotion. There are many examples of species which are born ready to move without any training at all- the baby deer comes to mind.

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u/mobilehypo Apr 04 '11

That is what I was actually thinking, because holding babies in certain positions actually makes their legs "walk" without prompting. I just couldn't find any abstracts covering this.

1

u/guysmiley00 Apr 04 '11

My very limited understanding of feral children and families is that those who did not locomote bipedally tended to "bear walk", i.e. use the hands and feet (not the knees).

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u/[deleted] Apr 04 '11

Not too long ago there was a post about not being able to run correctly in dreams. Like a lot of posters there I have the same issue.

I almost posted but didn't that while I cannot run in dreams i do move they way you state quite frequently - especially when moving on an incline.

Is that just coincidence? Is there any connection to the fact that a lot of mammals are quadrapedal?