The concepts of motor symphony and central pattern generation not only add to the understanding of the generation of behavior, but also add aspects of continuity and definition to behavior. The combination of the motor symphonies and central pattern generation define the generation of behavior in that one no longer has to speculate how a bundle of neurons can create the complexities of action that we call behavior. The transition from molecules to neurons to behavior becomes more evident when the concepts of motor symphony and central pattern generation are added. These two concepts supply a further sense of continuity between what appears to be purely biological and the ulitmate human actions that result from the nervous system.

As much as motor symphonies and central pattern generation help one better understand behavior and its generation, they also raise a potentially disturbing question: To what extent is behavior pre-determined? If the nervous system depends on a series of motor symphonies and the central pattern generation, does that imply that human action and ultimately the scheme of behavior is already determined because of the fact that the expression of behavior is stored? Before one can assert that behavior is pre-determined, there must be distinctions made between certain types of behavior and what has the potential to be pre-determined and what does not apply to the possibility of being pre-determined. It seems as though one may be able to assert that certain simple actions such as bodily movements may already be patterned by the nervous system, but more complex actions may not be justified by the combination of motor symphonies and central pattern generation.

Once again, the question of differentiation among behavior of different individuals also presents itself. If there is a specific set of rules followed by the nervous system for certain actions and behaviors, where does the differentiation come between individuals? It is certainly possible that such differentiation lies in the concepts of motor symphonies and central pattern generation because different individuals may have different patterns stored that create the ultimate expression of their behavior. However, there still remains the possibility that behavior differences lie at another level entirely, and therefore the supposed set of rules that directs behavior at the level of motor symphonies may be the same in all of humanity.

Interesting issues. Certainly the possibility of predetermination and lack of differentiation is there. But so too, as you say, is the possibility of differentiation. So too the possibility of non-determination, perhaps in the creation of CPG's, perhaps in their selection, perhaps in additional things we have yet to come to. Will, of course, talk more about all this. PG