ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses one of the main reasons why we humans have a brain. It allows us to exert influence on our environment. After a brief introduction of the embodied cognition concept, the chapter starts by discussing the basic mechanisms involved in the autonomous regulation of our bodily functions, including the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and the endocrine system, before introducing reflexes and the basic principles of conditioning. An in-depth discussion of the motor system follows, with the introduction of the main neural systems and brain areas involved in motor control, transforming an intention into action. The classic foundations of the ideomotor theory are discussed, prior to introducing current theories on motor control, and how motor control might be related to predictive coding processes. The final part of the chapter focuses on skill learning, the formation of motor chunks, and, lastly, it briefly introduces the concept of motor cognition.
