The Neural and Behavioral Organization of Goal-Directed Movements

The organization of goal-directed movements is a process central to the relationship between brain and behavior. In The Neural and Behavioral Organization of GoalDirected Movements, the author describes the cooperation between the neurological and musculoskeletal systems which produces mechanical movement. By nature, the subject is an interesting mixture of basic neurophysiology and abstract psychology. Jeannerod introduces the text with a chapter discussing models of programming goal-directed movements. Here he raises theoretical issues and presents experimental evidence for simple programming units-hypothesized basic neural circuits which produce motor commands. He spends the next two chapters carefully considering the role of the visual system in movement. Specifically, the author examines the hierarchical organization of visuomotor coordination and the role of visual feedback in movement control. Another two chapters deal with the relationship between position sense and movement direction and control. Finally, Jeannerod ends with clinical cases of cerebral injury and demonstrates the connection between the lesion site and the visuomotor impairment. At present, the author is a leading investigator in motor psychophysics, using the latest kinematic techniques to understand movement generation and performance. Jeannerod superbly discusses the implications of understanding goal-directed movements for psychology and neurobiology. He carefully constructs the theoretical and experimental foundation for the more detailed kinematic studies that follow. At each step, the author summarizes the old literature, critically reviews the latest research, and attempts to make a synthesis where possible. For particularly enlightening or controversial work, he often reprints the important data, allowing the reader to draw the final conclusions. The author's style is clear and very readable. The book contains both subject and author indices and an extensive bibliography. I recommend the volume to students of psychology and neurobiology as an excellent introduction and concise review of the field.