Movement through the Last Decade

in our understanding of motor control over the past decade? There is the usual, gradual accretion of understanding of the details of particular circuits in both inver-Neurons, Networks, and Motor Behavior tebrates and vertebrates. Although such accounts are essential as the foundation for extracting principles of Edited motor control, the more important advances are those which change the way we think about circuits generally. These have occurred on several fronts and have in common the development of a much better appreciation for the dynamic aspects of motor circuits. The most fundamental change in our thinking is one that is clearly owed to the invertebrate models. This is Even though studies of neuronal networks for movement do not move at the blistering speed of molecular biology, the notion that circuits, as defined by anatomical connections , can be reconfigured in very dynamic ways to important advances still occur at a steady pace. This produce different motor outputs. This reconfiguration progress has been heralded in each of the last three occurs through the action of neuromodulators upon the decades by a symposium and a resulting book, orga-channels and synapses in the network, leading to nized and edited by leaders in the study of motor sys-changes in cellular properties and functional connectiv-tems. Neurons, Networks, and Motor Behavior (Figure ity, which alter the circuit output. The fundamentals of 1) is the third of these books, reviewing work on motor these modulatory effects are well described in several circuitry over the last decade. The previous books in chapters, which also document similar effects in both the series have been landmark books in motor control. invertebrate and vertebrate systems. These neuromod-They helped to define the state of the field in each de-ulators can act not only on adult systems but also to cade and have held a prominent place on the book restructure the functional properties of neurons and cir-shelves of people both inside and outside of the area. cuits in association with the changing demands on the This book follows in that strong tradition. In many ways, motor systems during development. Here, as is often it is even better than those that came before. The book emphasizes those systems in which motor circuits are reasonably well defined at a cellular level, including the brainstem and spinal cord of vertebrates and key model systems from invertebrates. Groups of chapters address major issues in motor control, such …