Constructing Reality (8/29a)

Question 1

Nervous system structure

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Answer 2

Communicates with internal organs and glands; controls involuntary responses

Question 3

Somatic nervous system (SNS)

Answer 3

Communicates with sense organs and voluntary muscles; controls voluntary responses

Question 4

Sympathetic division of ANS

Answer 4

Arousing; deals with fight or flight responses

Question 5

Parasympathetic division of ANS

Answer 5

Calming; deals with resting and digestion

Question 6

Sensory nervous system of SNS

Answer 6

Afferent; sensory input

Question 7

Motor nervous system of SNS

Answer 7

Efferent; motor output

Question 8

Brain-Behavior Relationships

Answer 8

Traditional = localization
Contemporary = nodes and networks

Question 9

Motor control

Answer 9

the process of initiating, directing, and grading purposeful voluntary movement

Question 10

Motor learning

Answer 10

set of processes associated with practice or experience that lead to a relatively permanent change in the capability for producing skilled action

Question 11

Motor development

Answer 11

the study of the changes in human motor behavior over the lifespan, the processes that underlie these changes, and the factors that affect them

Question 12

Theory definition

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Reflex theory (Charles Sherrington)

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Hierarchical theory (Hughlings Jackson)

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Reflex-Hierarchical Theory

Answer 15

Reflexes are one of many ways to generate movements

This theory had many criticisms, however

Question 16

Feedforward response

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Feedback response

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Motor program theory (T. Graham Brown, 1911; Richard Schmidt)

Answer 18

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)

Question 19

Motor program

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Systems theory (Bernstein)

Answer 20

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)

Question 21

Dynamical action theory (Kelso)

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Dynamical systems theory

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Ecological theory (Gibson)

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Cognition

Answer 24

understanding, complex thinking and problem solving; the ability to direct and organize behavior

Question 25

Perception

Answer 25

how one views something; recognition and interpretation of sensory information

Question 26

Attention

Answer 26

what you focus on; selectively concentrating on one thing while ignoring other things

Top down (endogenous) vs bottom up (exogenous)

Question 27

Consciousness

Answer 27

being aware of oneself and one’s place in the environment; being awake/reactive to stimuli

2 dimensions: level (arousal/wakefulness) and content (awareness)

Question 28

Orientation

Answer 28

4 domains: to time, to person, to place, and to situation

Question 29

Memory

Answer 29

stored information

Question 30

Cognitive neuroscience

Answer 30

The study of biological substrates underlying cognition, with a specific focus on the neural substrates of mental processes