Sensory feedback modulates quipazine-induced stepping behavior in the newborn rat

► We examined how different substrates affect stepping in newborn rats. ► Stepping in one-day-old rat pups was induced with the 5-HT agonist quipazine. ► Quipazine induced plantar paw contact with a substrate. ► Pups made more contact with elastic than stiff substrate during stepping. ► Sensory feedback modulates locomotor mechanisms during early development.