Lecture 18

Question 1

There are more degrees of freedom in the body

Answer 1

than required to achieve a given task

Question 2

Higher levels of CNS activate lower levels

Answer 2

(motor units) which temporarily grouped as muscle synergies

Question 3

Motor learning

Answer 3

How we to do this efficiently and to cope with all the variability that life throws at us

Question 4

The Origin of motor program

Answer 4

Many researchers believe motor commands are represented and stored in the central nervous system

-Memory drum - computer analogy
-Motor program

Question 5

Open loop control difference to closed loop control

Answer 5

Both = Movement executive- movement commands - movement effectors

Closed loop has feedback from movement effectors to movement executive

Question 6

Information processing demands of movement

Answer 6

Input
Perception
Decision making
Executing
Feedback

Question 7

Indirect perception (Cognitive Approach)

Answer 7

Brain assigns meaning to sensory information

Question 8

Information processing model

Answer 8

It soon become apparent that motor programs for each skill unlikely
- Schmidt “schema theory”
- Key movement parameters are modified for generalised motor programmes (GMP)

Question 9

Generalised motor programs

Answer 9

Invariant features
Parameters

Question 10

Invariant features

Answer 10

Sequence of actions
Relative timing
Relative force

Question 11

Parameters

Answer 11

Muscle selection
Overall duration
Overall force

Question 12

Neurocomputational theories

Answer 12

More recently neurophysiological research has linked different brain regions to specific functions

Question 13

The field of robotics

Answer 13

Has identified that more complex (parallel)programming is needed to cope with / learn in ‘messy’ environments
- Artificial intelligence
-Predictive processing
-Sensory systems directly map to actuators

Question 14

4 areas of cognitive theoretical constructs

Answer 14

-Open, closed loop control
-Information- processing
-Schema theory
-Neurocumputational

Question 15

Ecological Psychology

Answer 15

Movement is much more complex than simple input output relay of information from the brain to the other systems

Question 16

Ecological psychology ( actions are determined by many factors)

Answer 16

-Internal (goals, prior experiences and capabilities of the individual)

-External (what is available in the environment)

Question 17

Direct Perception (Ecological approach)

Answer 17

-Energy transformations
-No intermediate stages between perception and action
-Animals sensory systems have evolved to pick up this information
-Looming response in animals and human babies

Question 18

Example of direct perception (Tau)

Answer 18

Optical variable ‘tua’ directly specifies time to contact

Question 19

Dynamical systems Jargon
Attractor
Control parameter
Rate limiter
Phase shift

Answer 19

• Attractor : Bench pressing with good form
• Control parameter: Increasing the amount of weight used in a bench press
  -Rate limiter : Increasing the weight used in a bench press beyond the capability of the exerciser
  -Phase shift: Change in the correct form caused by too much weight used in bench press

Question 20

Self organisation via contraint
3 Classes of contraints

Answer 20

Organismic
Task
Environmental

Question 21

Three classes of contraints provide…

Answer 21

A coherent framework for understanding how coordination patterns emerge during goal-directed behaviour

Question 22

Cognitive approaches

Answer 22

-Top down

-Body is controlled (enslaved) by the brain

-First information is processed and understood (input), then motor program is selected and released (output).

-Mix of predictive processing and reflexive control of muscle

Question 23

Ecological Dynamics

Answer 23

-Bottom up

-Individual - in -environment is a complex, dynamical system

-Co-ordination emerges from many interacting constraints

-Close interrelation between perceptual systems and motor systems