L1: Introduction to Motor Behaviour Flashcards
What are the Three Sub-disciplines in the Field of Motor Behaviour?
- Motor Control
- Motor Learning / Skill Acquisition
- Motor Development
What is Motor Control?
Motor Control determines what constrains the
neuromuscular system to carry out movements
What is Motor Learning?
Motor Learning refers to the observed behaviour that is a function of practice and experience
- Concerned with understanding how we learn to perform skilled movements (skill acquisition)
- Learning cannot be directly observed, it can only be inferred (from observing at different times).
Side Note:
What is Motor Development?
Not the same as motor learning.
Motor development is about change in behavior due to maturation/aging
What 3 Constraints is Motor Behaviour affected by?
How are the 3 Constraints related to Motor Behaviour at play in this situation?
What are the constraints on behaviour in this
situation and what type of constraint is it?
Why study motor behaviour?
- Help to instruct & organize practice for efficient & effective (re)learning & promote skilled performance (sport, military, clinical/rehab)
- Facilitate understanding of why people act, and predict how they will act to prevent errors (human factors/work place safety)
Tools and techniques for research
HOW DO WE STUDY MOTOR BEHAVIOUR?
What is EMG?
Surface electrode recordings from muscle belly.
Index of activity.
Records electrical activity at a muscle
What is EEG?
Electroencephalography (EEG):
surface electrical recording of the brain
Advantage:
- Good Temporal resolution. (see immediate changes)
Limitation:
- Only captures activity at cortical surface so Spatially limited. Can’t see specific brain regions
What is fMRI?
functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI):
- measures blood flow & Brain function
- MRI images formed by magnetic fields & radio frequency pulses
- Measure BOLD signal (Blood Oxygen Level Dependent) during “activity”
What are the advantages and limitations of fMRI?
Advantage:
- High spatial resolution (deep resolution in the brain)
Limitation:
- Not good temporal resolution & Expensive
What is TMS?
