(10) Motor system Flashcards
What are the strengths to studying actions via behaviour?
Allows us to systematically investigate the output of the action system, how someone moves depending on target
What are the weaknesses of studying actions via behaviour?
Cannot tell us anything about the brain, only looks at output
How can you study actions behaviourally?
- Use video or electronic recording equipment -allows one to record the position of body parts in space and time
- Can measure speed, accuracy and kinematics (velocity, acceleration, etc.)
- Improvements in equipment, performance enhancing
How can you study actions via Muscle Physiology (electromyography)?
can record activity of individual muscles or muscle fibres during action
What are the strengths of studying actions via Muscle Physiology (electromyography)?
Allows an understanding of how muscles operate
What are the weaknesses of studying actions via Muscle Physiology (electromyography)?
does not directly tell us anything about the brain
How do you study actions via Neurophysiology?
Implant electrodes in brain and record activity of individual neurons
-Can take a record of a number of neurons and measure their activity in real time
What are the strengths of studying actions via Neurophysiology??
Allows for excellent spatial and temporal resolution, exactly where in the brain
What are the weaknesses of studying actions via Neurophysiology??
cannot examine more than a miniscule percentage of the neurons at any one time, 10 million neurons in the brain
How do you study actions via Neuroimaging?
Put a subject in a brain scanner and measure blood flow while they perform a task
- More blood flow = more brain activity
- When neurons fire they use energy - need glucose
What are the strengths of studying actions via Neuroimaging??
Allows for a direct measure of activity in the human brain -has good spatial and fairly good temporal (at least for fMRI) resolution
What are the weaknesses of studying actions via Neuroimaging??
Many action processes take less than 2-4 seconds
-Hard to make many movements in a scanner environment
How do you study actions via Neuropsychology?
examine the consequences of brain damage in humans or animals
-If damage to one area is linked to a behavioural deficit, then can infer that area is necessary for that function
What are the strengths of studying actions via Neuropsychology??
Allows one to examine consequences of (in humans) naturally-occurring brain damage -can be used to show what areas are most important for a particular function, damage a certain area of the brain may effect behaviour: clear cause
What are the weaknesses of studying actions via Neuropsychology??
Cannot (in humans and often not in animals) place lesions where you want them and the size you want them
-Lesions often have effects on neurons far from the lesion site
How do you study actions via Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)?
temporarily disrupt brain activity in healthy humans (or animals) using a high-powered magnetic coil
-As with neuropsychology, infer function from effects of TMS
What are the strengths of studying actions via Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)?
A lot more ethical than giving people brain damage -can more or less precisely define the area of disruption and the time of disruption
What are the weaknesses of studying actions via Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)?
not all areas can be tested, must be on the surface of the brain -must be very careful not to give the participant a seizure, can’t test deep inside the brain
How do you study actions via Computational Modelling?
devise mathematical models of how actions might be carried out by a set of neurons
What are the strengths of studying actions via Computational Modelling?
Approaches the question of brain function from a synthetic rather than analytical perspective
What are the weaknesses of studying actions via Computational Modelling?
Does not address how brain actually works
How do you study actions via Event-related potentials?
record electrical activity from the scalp