Why We Choose How to Step Over Puddles
Human locomotion over obstacles reveals real-time prediction of energy expenditure for optimized decision-making
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Humans optimize energy across multiple steps without any physical feedback.
Most assume movement decisions rely on real-time feedback from muscles or balance. This study shows the brain predicts energy costs visually before contact—like a GPS calculating fuel use before you turn onto a hill.
Practical Takeaways
When navigating uneven terrain (stairs, curbs, trails), let your body choose the path—it’s likely picking the most energy-efficient route.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Humans optimize energy across multiple steps without any physical feedback.
Most assume movement decisions rely on real-time feedback from muscles or balance. This study shows the brain predicts energy costs visually before contact—like a GPS calculating fuel use before you turn onto a hill.
Practical Takeaways
When navigating uneven terrain (stairs, curbs, trails), let your body choose the path—it’s likely picking the most energy-efficient route.
Publication
Journal
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Year
2023
Authors
Katherine A. J. Daniels, J. F. Burn
Related Content
Claims (5)
People can look ahead and decide how to step over a hole without feeling it first—they use what they see to guess which way will use less energy.
If the hole is wide but shallow, it’s easier to step down and up; if it’s narrow but deep, it’s better to jump over—people pick the option that uses less energy based on the hole’s shape.
Human physiology is evolutionarily optimized to minimize energy expenditure during metabolic processes.
People don’t just try to save energy on one step—they think ahead about the whole sequence of steps and pick the path that saves the most energy overall.
When people walk over holes or gaps, they pick the easiest way to cross—like stepping over or stepping down and up—based on which one feels like it uses less energy, even if they can’t feel it until after they’ve decided.