Lecture 1

Question 1

Motor Control

Answer 1

Mechanisms essential to the regulation of movement

Area of study dealing with understanding several aspects of movement: nueral, physical, behavioral

Question 2

Motor Learning

Answer 2

Acquisition of skilled movment as a result of practice

Question 3

Neuroplasticity

Answer 3

can’t grow new neurons but brain can change its synapses

Brain Plasticity

Question 4

Degrees of Freedom

Answer 4

Nicholas Bernstein
# of independent elements or components of a system that need to be organized to produce a specific result

Question 5

Kinematic Redundancy

Answer 5

no single solution to a given problem of motor control

Question 6

Reflex Theory

Answer 6

Sir Charles Sherrington proposed a feedback control system as a way for the CNS to control a limb’s motion
Simple Reflexes were combined to produce actions

Question 7

Reflex Theory’s definition of a reflex

Answer 7

requiring a receptor, conducting nervous pathway, and effector

Question 8

Hierarchal Theory

Answer 8

Hughlings Jackson argued that the brain has higher, middle and lower areas equated with higher association areas, motor cortex and spinal levels of motor function.

Question 9

Reflex/ Hierarchial Combined Theory

Answer 9

Suggests that motor control emerges from reflexes that are nested within hierarchically organized levels of the nervous system`

Question 10

Reflex/ Hierarchical Theory with brain injury

Answer 10

Reflexes are a part of motor control in which higher centers normally inhibit these lower reflex centers. Pathology of the brain may result in persistance or reappearance of these lower level reflexes

Question 11

Maturation of Neural Processes with R/H theory

Answer 11

When baby is born functioning at level of brainstem spinal cord with primitive reflex
As nervous system myelinates and baby matures, start getting righting reactions- parachute reflex, propping lateral
As nervous system matures- develop equilibrium reactions- get ambulation

Question 12

Motor Programming Theory

Answer 12

there is a central memory representation that stores information needed to perform an action

Question 13

Example of Motor Programming

Answer 13

Writing signature- on board and on paper
Spatial component we hold in our brain to write it and have it look the same
We arent using the same muscles-> proximal shoulder for blackboard and wrist for paper

Question 14

Motor Programming Evidence

Answer 14

CPG
Deafferentation studies
Reaction Time Studies
Feedback Processing Studies

Question 15

Spinal Circuits Generate Rhythmic Locomotor Patterns

Answer 15

Central pattern generators control the synergistic, rhythmic pattern of gait.
These generators are innate and built into the architecture of the spinal cord.

Question 16

Intensity of the Stimulus Modulates Speed

Answer 16

Weak stimulation produced walking gait that increased in speed with the intensity of the stimulation.
Progressively stronger stimulation produced trotting and finally galloping
Control signal - modulated only in intensity -can activate locomotion and cause changes in speed.

Question 17

Control Signal

Answer 17

modulated only in intensity -can activate locomotion and cause changes in speed

Question 18

Motor Program- Deafferntation Studies

Answer 18

Deafferaentatiun studies by taub and bizzi
Cut dorsal roots of spinal cord
No afferent info coming in-
Monkey movement was clumsy but could still move- not skilled or coordinated

Question 19

Reaction Time Studies in Motor Program

Answer 19

Time to start for complex movement was longer than time to start for simple movement

Question 20

Feedback Processing Studies- in Motor Program

Answer 20

Feedback processing studies- even when they stopped movement the muscles were firing, firing even though no movemnt was taking place
The brain is prepared to move- central processing- muscles were firing even when stopped because there was preparation to move

Question 21

Generalized Motor Program Author

Answer 21

Richard Shmidt

Question 22

Generalized Motor Program

Answer 22

A general  representation of a class of actions
 The program stores in memory only some broad features for a particular class of actions 
Then specific parameters are added in order to execute a particular motion.

Question 23

Invariant Features of the Movement

Answer 23

Broad features of an action that we store
Characteristics of movement that remain consistent form one to the next

Spatial Order of the Components
Relative Force
Temporal Structure or Phasing -Movements with the same order of contractions, and the same firing ratios have the same temporal structure and are assumed to be produced by the same motor program

Question 24

Parameters of the Movement

Answer 24

characteristics that are applied to action that make it specific
Addresses novelty issue bc the parameters added to the invariant features that make for novel movements

Overall Duration
Overall Force
Muscle Selection
Movement Direction

Question 25

Systems Theory

Answer 25

Distributed Model of Control- N. Bernstein 1967

Movements are not peripherally or centrally driven
They emerge as a result of the interaction among many systems
Each part of the system contributing to different aspects of control.
Nervous System, Environment, Musculoskeletal, Sensorimotor

Question 26

Dynamic Systems Theory

Answer 26

When a system of individual parts comes together its elements behave collectively in an ordered way

Complex systems exhibit a self-organizing principle

Control parameters act to reorganize the system

Question 27

Dynamic Systems Example

Answer 27

Horse walks- feet individual
Trot- indivudal
Gallop- front legs ttogehter, back elgs together
As velocity increase animal has to change from trot to gallop obecause of biomechanical factors

Not related to peripoheral input, not related ot motor program, related to change of control factors

Question 28

Dynamic Systems vs Motor Programming

Answer 28

Dynamic systems- one motor program control parameter, biomechanical properties related to velocities
Motor programs- sepatate moror programming, because relative timing is differnt

Question 29

Task Oriented Approach

Answer 29

best way to learn an activity is to practice that activity

Question 30

What concepts does task oriented approach draw upon?

Answer 30

Draws on dynamic systems- if you want someone to walk on grass you need to get htem to go walk on grass

Question 31

Mott and Sherrington

Answer 31

In 1895 Mott and Sherrington demonstrated that surgical deafferentation of a monkey’s limb produced severe movement disorders.
Monkey’s were unwilling to use the limb in any sort of purposeful action.
They concluded that movement initiation requires afferent information.

Question 32

Edward Taub

Answer 32

Demonstrated that deafferentation does not necessarily abolish the capacity to make purposeful movements
Motor performance, although clumsy and poorly coordinated, was substantially preserved
When deafferentation is bilateral or when followed by retraining

Question 33

Taub Monkey Experiments Results

Answer 33

The monkey’s could use their deafferented limb when:

a. they were required to move their limb to avoid an electric shock
b. when they restrained the good arm
c. or when the deafferentation was bilateral

Unilateral = did not use extremity unless forced or constrained
Bilateral=used the extremities in a free situation