Neuromechanical Modeling of Posture and Locomotion

Neuromechanics is a new, quickly growing field of neuroscience research that merges neurophysiology, biomechanics and motor control and aims at understanding living systems and their elements through interactions between their neural and mechanical dynamic properties. Although research in Neuromechanics is not limited by computational approaches, neuromechanical modeling is a powerful tool that allows for integration of massive knowledge gained in the past several decades in organization of motion related brain and spinal cord activity, various body sensors and reflex pathways, muscle mechanical and physiological properties and detailed quantitative morphology of musculoskeletal systems. Recent work in neuromechanical modeling has demonstrated advantages of such an integrative approach and led to discoveries of new emergent properties of neuromechanical systems. Neuromechanical Modeling of Posture and Locomotion will cover a wide range of topics from theoretical studies linking the organization of reflex pathways and central pattern generating circuits with morphology and mechanics of the musculoskeletal system (Burkholder; Nichols; Shevtsova et al.) to detailed neuromechanical models of postural and locomotor control (Bunderson; Edwards, Marking et al., Ting). Furthermore, uniquely diverse modeling approaches will be presented in the book including a theoretical dynamic analysis of locomotor phase transitions (Spardy and Rubin), a hybrid computational modeling that allows for in vivo interactions between parts of a living organism and a computer model (Edwards et al.), a physical neuromechanical model of the human locomotor system (Lewis), and others.

Neuromecanica este un domeniu nou, in crestere rapida, al cercetarii in neurostiinte, care combina neurofiziologia, biomecanica si controlul motor si are ca scop intelegerea sistemelor vii si a elementelor acestora prin interactiuni intre proprietatile lor dinamice neuronale si mecanice. Desi cercetarea in neuromecanica nu este limitata de abordarile de calcul, modelarea neuromecanica este un instrument puternic care permite integrarea cunostintelor masive acumulate in ultimele cateva decenii in organizarea activitatii creierului si a maduvei spinarii legate de miscare, a diferitilor senzori corporali si cai reflexe, mecanice musculare si proprietati fiziologice si morfologie cantitativa detaliata a sistemelor musculo-scheletice.