Progress in Motor Control: Structure-function relations in voluntary movements

Book excerpt: Progress in Motor Control, Volume Two, features 12 chapters by internationally known researchers in the field of motor control. Comprehensive and up to date, the reference reflects the spirit of the great Nikolai Bernstein, one of the founders of the area now defined as motor control and a significant contributor to the structure-function controversy. Progress in Motor Control, Volume Two, preserves many of the features that made the first volume a state-of-the-art reference and presents these new features: -A reader-friendly design -More than 170 figures to illustrate the scientific ideas expressed -Many up-to-date references to help readers find the most current research in the field Less theoretical than the first volume, this book provides readers with valuable information on these subjects: -The direct relations of the motor function to neurophysiological and/or biomechanical structures -The role of the motor cortex and other brain structures in motor control and motor learning -The multidimensional and temporal regulation of limb mechanics by spinal circuits In this unique forum, prominent motor control scientists contribute varying viewpoints on different aspects of structure-function relations. These prominent scholars include scientists from the former Soviet Union who either knew Bernstein personally or worked closely with his students, biomechanists and neurophysiologists who focus on the role of particular body structures in the movement of production, and clinicians who analyze changes in movements with children and adults with neurological disorders. The book also gives an overview of the disagreement between Ivan Pavlov and Nikolai Bernstein, which is one of the most fascinating and controversial disagreements in the history of contemporary neurophysiology. Whether you're a researcher, or graduate or postdoctoral student, Progress in Motor Control, Volume Two, thoroughly summarizes the latest motor control issues, research, and theories, and it identifies problems in need of investigation.