Lec 9 - Motor Progams Pt.2 Flashcards
What are postural adjustments in motor programs?
Anticipatory body adjustments made before a movement to maintain balance, like shifting the center of gravity before lifting a heavy object.
What is the Reflex-Reversal Phenomenon?
A phenomenon where the same stimulus can produce different responses based on the task or environment, allowing reflexes to adapt to different movements or scenarios.
What are two main problems with traditional motor program theory?
1) Storage problem: Storing unique programs for infinite possible movements exceeds memory capacity. 2) Novelty problem: Difficulty explaining how new movements are generated without prior experience.
What is a Generalized Motor Program? (GMP)
A pattern or template for a category of movements, providing a structure that can be adjusted for variations in specific executions.
What are parameters in Generalized Motor Programs? (GMP)
Variable inputs like speed, amplitude, force, and effectors that allow flexibility in movement execution while maintaining the underlying pattern.
What are invariant features in motor programs?
Characteristics of movement that remain consistent across variations, such as relative timing (the ratio of time spent on each phase of movement).
Give an example of a Generalized Motor Program with relative timing.
In throwing a ball, regardless of distance, the timing of arm phases (backswing, throw, follow-through) remains consistent relative to the total movement time.
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Name 3 types of parameter modifications in GMPs.
1) Movement Time: Adjusting the total time of movement.
2) Movement Amplitude: Increasing or decreasing the size of the movement.
3) Effector: Changing which body part executes the movement.
What is Open Loop Control in motor programs?
A system where actions proceed without feedback once initiated, ideal for rapid, discrete movements where feedback might slow down execution, such as in a golf swing or typing on a keyboard.
What are Central Pattern Generators in motor control?
Neural circuits, often in the spinal cord, that generate rhythmic motor patterns (like walking) independent of feedback from the limbs.
What did the Slater-Hammel Experiment demonstrate about motor programs?
It demonstrated the difficulty in interrupting a movement once a motor program is triggered, showing a “point of no return” in motor execution.
How do motor programs handle complex movements?
Motor programs coordinate not only which muscles to activate but also the precise timing and coordination between them, managing multiple degrees of freedom in movement.
What analogy is used to explain Generalized Motor Programs?
GMPs are likened to a record that plays music: the song (invariant features) remains the same, but you can adjust the speed, volume, and pitch (parameters).
