Motor Control and Behavior Laboratories
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Courses in the Motor Behavior Program
The following are courses currently offered in our Motor Behavior Program. Please note that this is not a complete listing and special topic courses are available throughout a given semester. In addition to classes displayed below, both our undergraduate and graduate students have many opportunities to earn course credit performing laboratory work.
HK 253 Principles of Motor Development
HK 254 Principles of Motor Learning and Development
HK 258 Foundations of Motor Skill Learning
HK 263 Biomechanical Foundations of Motor Skills
As a first exposure to the study of biomechanics of human movement, the course introduces the study of human movement from a mechanical perspective. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses of human movement are considered.
HK 463 Human Motion Analysis
An assessment of research in human motion including kinematics, kinetics, electromyography, link segment modeling and analysis, energy and power analysis. The above concepts will be utilized in the assessment of athletes and both normal and atypical populations.
HK 490A Biomechanics and Motor Control of Human Gait
This course examines the underlying mechanisms of the control of gait. The major motor functions during gait will be examined, including prevention of upper body collapse, maintenance of upright posture and balance of the total body, control of the foot trajectory, and the generation and absorption of mechanical energy.
HK 495 Research Methods in Movement and Sport Science
HK 496 Independent Inquiry in Movement and Sport Science
This course is designed to provide an experiential learning environment to undergraduate students majoring in Movement and Sport Science in the Department of Health and Kinesiology at Purdue University. Students will gain research and presentation experience under the guidance of a supervising faculty member in one of the movement and sport science sub-disciplines: biomechanics, exercise physiology, motor control, motor development, sport history, or sport/exercise psychology.
HK 558 Principles of Perceptual Motor Learning
HK590A Biomechanics of Human Motion
HK 590B Pathological and Aging Considerations for Gait, Posture, and Balance
The use of biomechanical measurement and modeling techniques for the assessment of pathological movement. Case studies will be used to demonstrate the use of advanced biomechanics to diagnose and monitor the rehabilitation of the different pathologies and the aging. The emphasis will be on the process of integrating many different kinetic, kinematic and EMG variables.
HK 670 Advanced Topics in Motor Control
This course is designed to foster student engagement in the research process. Graduate students and faculty from a variety of motor behavior subdisciplines will share current research ideas and data, thoughtfully critique research and theory, and discuss ethical issues pertaining to the research process. A variety of topics will be covered, including: anti-inflammatory effects of exercise, predictors of athlete burnout, coordination of bimanual performance, infant perceptual-motor development, postural response to perturbations, social relationships and youth physical activity behavior, and youth sport/activity socialization processes.
HK 674 Control of Balance and Adaptive Locomotion
This course will examine the interaction of the mechanical and nervous systems, highlighting how the sensory systems are used to control the multi-degree of freedom mechanical system. These aspects will be considered for balance control, and for adaptive locomotion. The course involves a formal lecture section, followed by a seminar section where students present and discuss research papers. Students will be asked to select and present a series of papers related to their area of interest. will be placed on factors that influence health and health related behaviors. The course is intended to provide students with an overview of the historical, political, social and cultural factors related to the health behavior and health status of minority groups in American society.