Perception of task duration influences metabolic cost during split-belt adaptation and biomechanics during both adaptation and post-adaptation.

Individuals can markedly reduce the metabolic cost of split-belt adaptation if they believe they must sustain the task for a prolonged time. The variables typically used to track adaptation do not track the reductions in metabolic cost observed in our study. Believing that the adaptation task will be sustained over a prolonged time also influenced retention of locomotor patterns. Non-biomechanical strategies have a marked effect on metabolic costs during split-belt adaptation.