Formation and Initiation of Action Patterns.- Initiation of Voluntary Movements and the Supplementary Motor Area.- Comparative Timing of Neuronal Discharge in Cortical and Cerebellar Structures During a Simple Arm Movement in the Monkey.- Preparation for Action: Slow Potentials and EMG.- Characterization of Joint - Interpolated Arm Movements.- Precuing Methods in the Study of Motor Programming.- Programming of Rapid Finger Sequences.- Programming of Complex Sequences: Evidence from the Timing of Rapid Speech and Other Productions.- Intermanual Interactions During Programming of Finger Movements: Transient Effects of "Homologous Coupling".- Modulation and Maintenance of Action Patterns.- Pattern Formation in Speech and Limb Movements Involving Many Degrees of Freedom.- Task Dynamic Coordination of the Speech Articulators: A Preliminary Model.- Understanding Human Movement.- Opposition Space as a Structuring Concept for the Analysis of Skilled Hand Movements.- Self-Inhibition and the Disruptive Effects of Internal and External Feedback in Skilled Behavior.- On Knowing How to Do Things.- Do Units of Motor Action Really Exist?.- Gearing Action to the Environment.- Rapid Limb Movements and Their Modulation with Task Demands.- On Information Processing and Performing a Movement Sequence.- Requirements for a Generalized Model of the Control of Walking Behaviour in Hexapods at Any Orientation to the Gravity Vector.- Evidence for the Control of Velocity as Well as Position in Leg Protraction and Retraction by the Stick Insect.

During the academic year 1984/85 a study group on "Per ception and Action" was established at the Center for Inter disciplinary Research of the University of Bielefeld. Among the various activities of this group was a series of symposia. This volume covers the proceedings of one of the sym posia, held in October 1984 and entitled "Generation and Modulation of Action Patterns". Bringing together scientists from diverse disciplines in gen eral is challenging, but also hazardous. Aware of the notori ous communication problems, it was tried to keep the number of representatives of at least the major areas of Neurobiology and Psychology about equal and to elicit pre sentations that combine experimental findings with theoret ical statements on major issues in motor control. Despite the different' viewpoints, concepts, research strategies, and methods as they are reflected in the present volume, there was the general impression among the participants that such a multidisciplinary effort was profitable and one step on the way to the realization of common goals and com mon conceptual grounds.