Constructing Reality (8/29a) Flashcards
Nervous system structure
Nervous system = central nervous system AND peripheral nervous system
Central nervous system = brain and spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system = autonomic nervous system AND somatic nervous system
Autonomic nervous system = sympathetic (arousing) division AND parasympathetic (calming) division
Somatic nervous system = sensory/afferent nervous system AND motor/efferent system
Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Communicates with internal organs and glands; controls involuntary responses
Somatic nervous system (SNS)
Communicates with sense organs and voluntary muscles; controls voluntary responses
Sympathetic division of ANS
Arousing; deals with fight or flight responses
Parasympathetic division of ANS
Calming; deals with resting and digestion
Sensory nervous system of SNS
Afferent; sensory input
Motor nervous system of SNS
Efferent; motor output
Brain-Behavior Relationships
Traditional = localization Contemporary = nodes and networks
Motor control
the process of initiating, directing, and grading purposeful voluntary movement
Motor learning
set of processes associated with practice or experience that lead to a relatively permanent change in the capability for producing skilled action
Motor development
the study of the changes in human motor behavior over the lifespan, the processes that underlie these changes, and the factors that affect them
Theory definition
an idea or set of ideas that is intended to explain facts or events; a set of principles on which the practice of an activity is based
Reflex theory (Charles Sherrington)
If there is a stimulus, it is picked up by a receptor and goes to a motor neuron to create a response
Simple reflexes are combined into greater actions which constitute behavior
Peripheral view of control
Hierarchical theory (Hughlings Jackson)
Each successively “higher” level in the nervous system exerts control over the level below it
Idea that basic reflexes are at the spinal level, more complex at brain stem, most complex in the cortex
Neuromaturational theory of development
Reflex-Hierarchical Theory
Reflexes are one of many ways to generate movements
This theory had many criticisms, however
Feedforward response
you can plan ahead depending on knowing the end goal
EX: taking a wide stance on a bus when you know it might be unsteady
Feedback response
take the system output into consideration, which enables the system to adjust its performance to meet a desired output response
EX: grip a wine glass more while wine is poured into it
Motor program theory (T. Graham Brown, 1911; Richard Schmidt)
Instructions are specified by the CNS, a motor program is specified, parameters are assigned, motor program and assigned parameters initiate and carry out intended actions, involves a central pattern generator (CPG)
Motor program
Abstract representation of a movement plan, stored in memory that contains all the motor commands required to carry out intended action
One does not need a motor program for each skill
A program represents a class of actions
Systems theory (Bernstein)
Recognized importance of force acting on body, control is distributed
Degrees of freedom - controlled by hierarchy: the problem is how do we control so many degrees of freedom
Available movements (sentences): muscles (letters), synergies (words), actions (sentences)
Dynamical action theory (Kelso)
When a system of individual parts comes together, its elements behave collectively in an ordered way
Movement emerges as a result of interacting elements, without the need for specific commands or motor programs
Fundamental principle: Self-organization
Dynamical systems theory
combines systems and dynamical actions theories to solve DOF problem
Distributed control - integration of all systems working together
Muscle synergies - a pattern of coactivation of muscles recruited by a single neural command signal to reduce computational load
Self organization - Movement pattern emerges as a function of a changing “parameter” placed on the learner
Nonlinear behavior - control parameter regulates behavior change, order parameter gives quantitative measures
Variability - variety of preferred patterns is necessary, tendency of body to aim for stable attractor states
Ecological theory (Gibson)
Motor control evolves to cope with the environment
Focus on how actions are geared to the environment
Perception not sensation (EX: Adolf’s videos)
Newell’s constraints theory - ability to regulate or direct mechanisms essential to movement
Cognition
understanding, complex thinking and problem solving; the ability to direct and organize behavior
Perception
how one views something; recognition and interpretation of sensory information
Attention
what you focus on; selectively concentrating on one thing while ignoring other things
Top down (endogenous) vs bottom up (exogenous)
Consciousness
being aware of oneself and one’s place in the environment; being awake/reactive to stimuli
2 dimensions: level (arousal/wakefulness) and content (awareness)
Orientation
4 domains: to time, to person, to place, and to situation
Memory
stored information
Cognitive neuroscience
The study of biological substrates underlying cognition, with a specific focus on the neural substrates of mental processes
