Final answer:
Motor behavior involves the study of how organisms control their movements and how the cerebellum plays a pivotal role in procedural learning and motor skills. Reflexes and motor development in infants are key aspects in this field, as is behavioral neurology in understanding neurological impacts on behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
The study of motor behavior encompasses the understanding of how organisms control their movements and interact with their environment. It includes the analysis of reflexes, which can be initiated by either deep stimulation of tendons or superficial stimulation of the skin. Such reflexes play a crucial role in distinguishing motor disorders between upper and lower motor neurons. The symptoms can be further differentiated through the type of paralysis, muscle tone, and signs like pronator drift or the Babinski sign.
Another critical aspect of motor behavior is the role of the cerebellum in the nervous system, which is instrumental in procedural learning and in acting as a comparator for voluntary movement. This includes basic motor skills such as riding a bike or throwing a football, and is central to one's ability to move the body and manipulate objects effectively. The cerebellum's role in comparing motor commands and sensory feedback is vital to both basic behavior and specific behavior in various environments.
The field of Behavioral neurology also delves into how neurological conditions affect motor behavior, cognition, and memory. This interdisciplinary approach helps in treating and understanding behaviors resulting from neurological changes, as emphasized by the work of notable authors like Ramachandran.
Finally, motor development in infants follows an orderly sequence, progressing from reflexive actions like sucking and rooting to increasingly complex activities such as sitting, crawling, and walking. This progression is based on nature and genes, where newborn reflexes exhibit an inborn response to certain stimuli