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  • RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

Humans walk efficiently even with their heads in the clouds

Exoskeleton-clad volunteers show that adapting to an energy-saving pace requires almost no attention.
A man walks past a wall covered in colourful graffiti looking at his mobile phone

Maintaining the most energy-efficient way of walking makes minimal cognitive demands, freeing up the brain to focus on other things, such as text messages. Credit: Julian Castle/Loop Images/UIG/Getty

Can you chew gum and walk? An analysis of gait and attention suggests that multitasking on a stroll should be a breeze1.

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Nature 597, 451 (2021)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-02515-5

References

  1. McAllister, M. J., Blair, R. L., Donelan, J. M. & Selinger, J. C. J. Exp. Biol. 224, jeb242655 (2021).

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