Innervation of Locomotor Movements by the Lumbosacral Cord in Birds and Mammals

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Abstract
In earlier experiments (1960) I was able to demonstrate that in pigeons the lumbosacral cord has a high degree of autonomy, and when isolated from the rest of the central nervous system can autonomously co-ordinate walking movements of the hind limbs. A pigeon with the spinal cord transected in the lower thoracic region under normal circumstances can neither stand nor walk ; but when it is placed in a special apparatus (a kind of carriage) so that it is in a normal attitude with the feet resting on the floor it can make genuine walking movements when the hind part of the body is stimulated. It was found essential that the legs be more or less extended and the soles of the feet resting on the floor.