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Motor Organization of the Avian Head-Neck System

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Perception and Motor Control in Birds

Abstract

This chapter reviews progress in understanding the motor patterning and control of the avian cervical column, and its underlying anatomical and neuronal basis. The avian cervical column is a highly complex system which positions the head during all behavioural patterns. In many species over 20 highly mobile cervical vertebrae are found, and up to 200 muscles run along either side of the cervical column. Numerous modal action patterns occur, each serving one of many different functions which are primarily performed by the head, and these patterns appear very flexible when external conditions change (cf. Chap. 8). A versatile system is required in order to generate numerous specific modal action patterns and to achieve flexibility in each one of them. This is accomplished by a complex mechanical construction of the cervical column, and a flexible neuro-motor patterning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurobehavioural Morphology, Institute for Evolutionary and Ecological Sciences, Leiden University, PO Box 9516, NL 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands

    G. Zweers, R. Bout & J. Heidweiller

Authors
  1. G. Zweers
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  2. R. Bout
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  3. J. Heidweiller
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University College London, Gower St, WC1E 6BT, London, UK

    Mark N. O. Davies

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, Nottingham, UK

    Patrick R. Green

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© 1994 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Zweers, G., Bout, R., Heidweiller, J. (1994). Motor Organization of the Avian Head-Neck System. In: Davies, M.N.O., Green, P.R. (eds) Perception and Motor Control in Birds. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75869-0_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75869-0_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-75871-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-75869-0

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