Motor behavior is the study of how humans and animals control their movements, learn new skills, and develop motor abilities throughout their lifespan. Biomechanics is the study of movement from a mechanical perspective, including the forces, torques, and energy involved in producing and maintaining motion. Both fields are closely related because they share a common interest in understanding the principles and mechanisms of human movement.
Biomechanics and Motor Control
Motor control investigates the natural laws that describe how the central nervous system interacts with the body and environment to produce coordinated, purposeful movement. Biomechanics provides the tools and methods to measure and analyze the kinematics and kinetics of movement, such as joint angles, velocities, accelerations, forces, moments, and power. By combining biomechanical measurements with neurophysiological recordings, such as electromyography (EMG), electroencephalography (EEG), or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), motor control researchers can explore how the brain and spinal cord regulate muscle activity, posture, balance, coordination, and adaptation.
For example, biomechanics and motor control researchers have studied how humans perform reaching and grasping tasks, which involve precise coordination of multiple joints and muscles in the upper limb. They have identified factors that influence the planning and execution of these movements, such as target location, size, shape, orientation, weight, texture, and context. They have also investigated how humans learn to improve their performance through practice, feedback, and error correction. Furthermore, they have examined how humans cope with changes in their own body or environment, such as aging, injury, disease, fatigue, pain, or external perturbations.
Biomechanics and Motor Development
Motor development investigates how humans acquire and refine motor skills from infancy to old age. Biomechanics provides the tools and methods to measure and analyze the changes in movement patterns and capabilities that occur across the lifespan. By combining biomechanical measurements with developmental assessments, such as motor milestones, standardized tests, or questionnaires, motor development researchers can explore how genetic, environmental, social, and cognitive factors influence motor behavior.
For example, biomechanics and motor development researchers have studied how infants learn to walk, which involves complex interactions between musculoskeletal maturation, neural maturation, sensory feedback, motivation, exploration, and play. They have identified factors that affect the onset and progression of walking skills, such as body weight, leg length, muscle strength, joint stiffness, balance control, visual guidance, parental support, and cultural practices. They have also investigated how infants adapt their walking to different terrains, slopes, obstacles, or carrying objects.
Conclusion
Motor behavior research is closely related to biomechanics because both fields aim to understand the principles and mechanisms of human movement. By using biomechanical tools and methods to measure and analyze movement data, motor behavior researchers can gain insights into how the brain and body interact to produce coordinated, purposeful, and adaptive movement across the lifespan.
