image: (A1-H1) The color bar represents the F-statistic value; highlighted regions denote areas with significant FC differences (relative to the corresponding seed region) across conditions, overlaid on the Montreal Neurological Institute standard brain template. Seed-based pairs (targeted regions of interest visualized): A1, left calcarine gyrus (Calcarine_L) and left mid-temporal gyrus (Temporal_Mid_L); B1, right calcarine gyrus (Calcarine_R) and right mid-temporal gyrus (Temporal_Mid_R); C1, right calcarine gyrus (Calcarine_R) and right mid-frontal gyrus (Frontal_Mid_R); D1, left supplementary motor area (SMA_L) and right cuneus (Cuneus_R); E1, right supplementary motor area (SMA_R) and right cuneus (Cuneus_R); F1, left precentral gyrus (Precentral_L) and right cerebellar lobule VI; G1, right precentral gyrus (Precentral_R) and right cerebellar lobule VI; H1, right precentral gyrus (Precentral_R) and right mid-frontal gyrus (Frontal_Mid_R). (A2-H2) Each dot denotes an individual’s FC value between the matched seed and targeted region; the red dot within each shaded area denotes the mean FC value, and the upper/lower bounds of the shaded area represent the mean ± standard deviation. Post-hoc paired t-test significance: *p < 0.05, †p < 0.01, ‡p < 0.001. Con 1: resting state after rest; Con 2: resting state after walking with normal vision; Con 3: resting state after walking with visual occlusion.
Credit: Chinese Medical Journal
Vision acts as the navigation radar for human locomotion, transmitting environmental information to the brain and regulating motor decisions through sensorimotor integration. When visual input is impaired, how does the brain maintain walking stability via functional remodeling? Deciphering this neural mechanism can provide a brand-new brain function regulation approach for motor rehabilitation in low-vision populations.
The present study adopted Bangerter™ occlusion foils to simulate visual impairment, combined with pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (PR-VEPs) and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). It comparatively analyzed the visual electrophysiological characteristics and post-walking brain function changes of healthy young adults under normal vision and visual occlusion conditions. This study was published in Volume 139, Issue 06 on March 20, 2026, in the Chinese Medical Journal.
The results demonstrated that the simulated visual impairment significantly reduced the signal-processing efficiency of the visual pathway, verifying the stability of the low-quality visual input model. Further rs-fMRI analysis revealed that the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) in the right paracentral lobule decreased after walking under normal vision compared with the resting state. In contrast, the ALFF of this region slightly rebounded after walking under visual occlusion, reflecting the adaptive adjustment of local brain functional activities.
Meanwhile, walking activated functional connectivity in multiple sensorimotor pathways that support basic locomotion. These pathways included the bilateral calcarine and middle temporal gyrus, bilateral supplementary motor area and right cuneus, as well as bilateral precentral gyrus and right cerebellar lobule VI.
Most crucially, visual occlusion further strengthened the functional connectivity between the right precentral gyrus and middle frontal gyrus, which may serve as the core compensatory mechanism to make up for insufficient visual input. The findings suggest that the brain achieves walking function compensation under low-quality visual input through a strategy of rigid activation of sensorimotor pathways combined with targeted enhancement of local functional connectivity.
This study provides a new way to enhance motor rehabilitation in low-vision populations. In the future, we can adopt visual-somatosensory multimodal integrated training. This training would be designed to strengthen the functional connectivity of key brain regions, such as the right precentral gyrus and middle frontal gyrus. On this basis, we will develop personalized motor rehabilitation programs for low-vision patients at the brain function level.
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Reference
DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000004040
About Professor Yingfang Ao from the Institute of Sports Medicine of Peking University
Professor Yingfang Ao is the Chief Physician and Grade-II Professor of Peking University Third Hospital, PhD Supervisor, and recipient of the Special Government Allowance. He has long engaged in sports medicine and exercise neuroscience research. He led over 20 national-level projects, published more than 200 SCI papers, and won many prestigious awards, including the Second-Class National Science and Technology Progress Award and the National Innovation Award.
Funding information
This work was supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number: 81600760).
Journal
Chinese Medical Journal
Method of Research
Observational study
Subject of Research
People
Article Title
Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study on the effects of visual status on walking-related brain functions in healthy young adults
Article Publication Date
20-Mar-2026