Once upon a time … … the early concepts of breathing, walking, and chewing

Many important notions relative to breathing, walking, and chewing originated from early concepts developed in the nineteenth century. We will consider successively: – The measurements of the parameters of these behaviors done by great experts on movement recordings. It corresponded to the first elements of biomechanics. – The physiology of central motor activities in locomotion and in respiration completed by the analysis of motor neuropathologies where specific deficits have highlighted the role of some crucial motor structures. – The studies of different reflexes, a predominant concept at that time, that have characterized some particular pathways between the sensory receptors and the different motor output. The goal of this review is to show how true pioneers, often using some crude and simple methods of investigation, have addressed important issues relative to control of these three rhythmic motor behaviors.