Humans are the dexterous species. We excel at movement generation, in particular, at handling objects and generating the complex sequences of actions that achieve goals. This course looks at the fundamental processes of movement generation in humans and other animals and characterizes the special properties of human movement that emerge from the neural foundation. Object-oriented movement generation entails not only the timing and control of movement, but also object perception, scene representation, and the organization and planning of sequences. Movement generation thus cuts across a wide range of neural processes.

We review experimental results in movement science, discuss mathematical models of movement generation, and use robotic instantiations of such models to illustrate their function. The mathematical language that pervades the theoretical work reviewed in the course comes from the theory of dynamical systems. The course includes tutorials on basic concepts in dynamical systems theory. The exercises provide opportunities to use those concepts in a variety of contexts.

Another goal of the course is to expose students to interdisciplinary science. The exercises include readings of review papers in different relevant fields. An essay exercise practices reading and writing at the level of academic research papers.

Prof. Dr. Gregor Schöner Lecturer

(+49) 234-32-27965 gregor.schoener@ini.rub.de NB 3/31

Course type

Lectures

Credits

6 CP

Term

Summer Term 2016

Lecture

Takes place every week on Thursday from 14:15 to 16:00 in room NB 3/57.
First appointment is on 14.04.2016

Exercise

Takes place every week on Thursday from 16:15 to 17:00 in room NB 3/57.
First appointment is on 21.04.2016

Exercises

Usually, we upload an exercise sheet after each lecture. This sheet has to be handed in before the lecture of the following week (alternatively, you can hand it in via email to Oliver Lomp), which gives you a week to work on the solutions.

After collecting your solutions, we take a week to correct them and then discuss them in the exercise session following the lecture.

Exercises are corrected, and exercise sessions lead by Oliver Lomp.

Further reading

There is a book, which I partially follow. See here .