BIOMECHANICS AND DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROMOTOR CONTROL

By applying the principles and methods of mechanics to the MuSculoskel etal system, new insights can be discovered about control of human lim b dynamics both in adults and infants. Here, we first provide a basic primer about biomechanics-its historical context, terminology, and ana lytical techniques. Next we review research with animals and human adu lts that illustrates how limb dynamics provides a window for examining the physical mechanisms underlying neuromotor control. Finally, we el aborate on how our research group has adapted dynamics techniques to i nvestigate how infants gain control of their limbs and learn to reach in the first year of life.