Constructing Reality: The Complexity Of Human Movement Flashcards
What is the primary method that is used to study the brain today?
Functional imaging
What are the 3 different types of “motors”?
Motor Control - “smoothness of activation” or the process of initiating, directing, and grading purposeful voluntary movement.
Motor Learning - processes that allow you to learn a new skill/action
Motor Dev’pt - changes in motor behavior over the lifespan
What is a theory?
An idea or set of ideas that is intended to explain a fact or event OR a set of principle on which the practice of an activity is based.
What does reflex theory state? What is an example of this theory in action? What is an example of this being debunked?
Simple reflexes roll into greater actions to create behavior.
Patellar stretch reflex
If this is the case, then how come I can walk through flames to save someone? We have the ability to perform VOLUNTARY action.
What is the premise of the hierarchical theory? What is an example of this? How is this theory lacking?
Each successively higher level in the nervous system controls the level below it.
An example of this was human development - basic flexion/extension moving on to midbrain dev’pt and then cortex development when they can respond to stimuli.
We can still use our sensations to change our movement (ex: someone without sensation can walk). We are not only top-down.
Which movement theory does the “degrees of freedom” debunk and how?
Reflex/hierarchical - because how does your CNS “know” which was to stand up, touch your nose, etc.
What is feedforward control and what is example?
That even before you begin a movement, your brain is planning the movement. Ex: If I throw a ball in a basket, I use my prior knowledge of every throw I have ever done to adjust my throwing.
What is feedback control and what is an example of this?
Your brain will attempt to remedy an error made in feedforward control . Example: driving on Lincoln Drive.
What are two potential theoretical solutions for feedforward control?
Motor program theory
Dynamical actions/systems theory
What is motor program theory?
The idea that your memory will store all the motor commands required to carry out action
What is the premise of Systems Theory?
The belief that control within the body is distributed and often the result of force acting on the body. Introduced the idea of us having various synergies: locomotor, postural, and respiratory
What is an example of Dynamical Action Theory? What is the fundamental principle of this theory?
Tapping the hands in different directions on the legs eventually leads to them going the same way. The fundamental principle is that of self-organization.
What is the fundamental idea of dynamical systems theory?
The fundamental idea is DISTRIBUTED CONTROL.
What is the definition of a synergy?
A pattern of co-activation of muscles recruited by a single neural command signal.
Explain the concept of “self-organization”.
A movement pattern arises based on the changing parameters placed on a learner. (i.e. movement speed, and the task goal - as in the example of the wine glasses).
