Neurobiology of Motor Programme Selection: New Approaches to the Study of Behavioural Choice (Studies in Neuroscience)

In this book, alternative approaches and ideas concerning the neural bases of behavioural choices are presented. Behavioural choice is treated in terms of selection of motor output. It can mean selection of which motor pattern is to be expressed, which variations of this pattern, the duration of the pattern and when to stop. A discussion of cellular mechanisms is presented first which help to select the motor output pattern in small networks. The next section deals with the neuronal bases of changes in behaviour and the role of distributed networks. Finally, selection of goal-directed and volitional movements are examined.