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Biodynamic Structures, Cognitive Correlates of Motive Sets and the Development of Motives in Infants

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Abstract

Bernstein (1967) proposed that movements are created and maintained by the “biodynamic structures” of body and brain. He compared genesis of movement to morphogenesis of tissues and organs. In both processes the elements differentiate in time relative to each other within a coherent whole. He described human locomotion in unprecedented detail, showing how the form of movement was a resultant of cyclical forces in muscles and reactive forces arising peripherally — from gravitation, inertia of body parts and pressures and resistances of surrounding media. His analyses of walking and running demonstrated how the central excitatory program complements and exploits or channels the peripheral forces generated by limb oscillations with astonishing precision and regularity. They clarified the relationship between the command of neuromuscular excitation and the responsive sensitivity of the central program to information feedback from receptors.

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Trevarthen, C. (1984). Biodynamic Structures, Cognitive Correlates of Motive Sets and the Development of Motives in Infants. In: Prinz, W., Sanders, A.F. (eds) Cognition and Motor Processes. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69382-3_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69382-3_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-69384-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-69382-3

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