Why can we walk without thinking?

Question

it also puzzles me if walking requires much brain power

Answer 1

The same way we breath, talk and walk in our sleep etc,The brain controlls everything

Answer 2

These are programmed behaviours, they are present in the brain before we are born. When still in the womb oxygen and food are taken from the mothers blood through a thin membrane which keeps mother's and baby's blood separate. After birth, the cord is cut and the baby has breath on its own. A hole in the heart which made it easy for the unborn baby's heart to bypass the lungs, has to close so the blood has to pass through the lungs for the first time(this is why a new born baby looks very red in colour, but changes to pink as it's blood is oxygenated by the lungs).

If you hold a new born baby upright so it's feet are just touching the floor or a table, and move it forward, you will find that the baby will "walk" as this programmed reflex takes over. The fact that the baby cannot support it's own weight is immaterial, the ability is there from day one, although with human babies, it will take time for the strength to build up.

Answer 3

It's like we have different levels of mind. A 'brain' thinking mind and a physical instinctive one ( we also have an emotions one too but that's not relevant).

When we were little kids we probably did have to think quite hard about putting one foot in front of the other, where to place it and how heavily etc. But once you've learnt it the other mind takes over, the instinctive one. Because it happens instinctively, the thinking mind is then free to wonder what to have for dinner or whatever while you are walking along the street.

It's the same with loads of stuff, driving, dancing, typing on a keyboard. If you try and spell each letter as you type with your brain it takes ages... but if you let the instinctive one do it then it's much faster leaving you time to think about what to type next.

Good question!

Answer 4

actually, during walking is the time you do the most thinking. To solve a problem, you go for a walk and think about it.
when walking, you think about all kinds of stuff, imagine a walk, having no thoughts? trying to keep your mind blank, no internal dialog?. Its impossible. Bathing is another time for heightened, clear thinking.
The idea is the body is engaged in physical activity, not requiring mental thought, (its not a race, or assult course) so the brain is freed to think, with the increased blood circulation.
The actual reason for the steps, without thought, is physical conditioning. As a baby, every step was thought, effort, and balance. By massive repetition, we run on auto, but a stroke victim, loosing that engrained data, would not, the steps would be thought about, again.

Answer 5

Because we have different skills, and walking is a cognitive skill, like blinking, can you imagine having to think left right let forward, now the left, now the right.....imagine having to run a race?!
We have many types of skills, walking, running, riding a bike, driving a car even can become a cognitive skill. How many times you have arrived at your destination and thought, did I stop at any traffic lights? Did I pass anyone? Where were we going???

Answer 6

Automatic Function

Answer 7

yes it does need brain power

Answer 8

muscle memory, if you do something 30 or so times, you can do it almost automaticaly.
It is how we learn to surf, run,swing a golf club, swim, throw darts,chuck a javelin well.

Answer 9

Speak for yourself. I have headphones telling me "breath in, breath out, feet!, Feet!"

Answer 10

. . . it's so nice to see you've got beyond the crawling stage, how's the potty training? . . .