Motor Function
Movement and motor function in the human body are regulated primarily by the motor cortex of the brain which transmits neurological signals via the spinal cord to a complex set of neurons. Among other things, these signals from the spinal cord tell muscles to contract and regulate the force with which they do so. Moving your body, talking, and changing the direction in which your eyes are looking are all motor skills coordinated by the brain's motor cortex.
Disruption of these signals causes significant balance and movement problems, as anyone who has ever consumed too much alcohol knows. Luckily, the effects of excessive alcohol consumption wear off after a few hours and a good night's sleep. Nutritional deficiencies, on the other hand, especially in developing children, can lead to permanent damage to motor function.
Beneficial Foods
| Blueberries | Improve motor skills. |
| Cranberries | Protect against age-related loss of coordination, balance, and motor function. |
Beneficial Nutrients
| Boron | Improves motor skills and dexterity. |
| Copper | A long-term deficiency can cause permanent damage to motor function in infants. |
| Iron | A deficiency can cause delayed motor function development in infants. |
| Vitamin B12 | A deficiency can cause movement disorders, delayed development, and poor balance, particularly in infants. |