ABSTRACT
Most of the time we take for granted the effortless way in which our thoughts are transformed into actions; upon feeling thirsty we reach for a glass of water without pausing to reflect on the ease with which multiple muscles were co-ordinated to bring the hand to the glass, grasp it between fingers and thumb and lift it smoothly to the mouth without spilling a drop. Yet this task is a significant challenge for even the most sophisticated robots, and the loss of motor function can be one of the most devastating consequences of disease or injury to the nervous system.
