A historical perspective on learning: the legacy and actuality of I. M. Pavlov and N. A. Bernstein

The aim of the present chapter is to examine the mechanism of learning at the level of sensorimotor functions rather than at a higher cognitive level. Indeed, although the mechanisms subserving motor control and learning are still disputed, it is generally admitted that the control of even the simplest gesture such as pointing or grasping implies initial learning during development as a child and continuous adaptation to the context of action.