Lecture 1b, Introduction to Motor Behaviour

Question 1

What are the 3 Sub-disciplines in the Field of Motor Behaviour?

Answer 1

1. motor control
2. motor learning/skill acquisition (about acquiring movement skills)
3. motor development (will not be covering in class)

Question 2

Motor Behaviour

Answer 2

is consequence of constraints (these constraints affect how we move/learn)

behaviour = can be measured (observable)
behaviour = consequence of constraints:
- person
- task
- environment
* in research we look for GENERAL principles of behaviour, whilst appreciating constraints on seeing this behaviour

Question 3

Think shape, height, weight, motivation, personality - what kind of constraint is this?

Answer 3

person

Question 4

Think type of race, stroke, competition, rules, instructions - what kind of constraint is this?

Answer 4

task

Question 5

Think about water temperature, size of the pool, take off board, coaches/umpire - what kind of constraint is this?

Answer 5

environment

Question 6

Motor Control

Answer 6

determine what constrains the neuromuscular system to carry out movements
- how does the CNS (central nervous system; brain and spinal cord) plan and execute movements?
- what is the interaction between the CNS and incoming sensory and environmental factors that constrain and promote movement?

Question 7

Motor Learning

Answer 7

observed behaviour that is a function of practice and experience
- concerned with understanding how we learn to perform skilled movements (skill acquisition)
- how does a relatively permanent change in motor behaviour arise from practice or experience?
- learning cannot be directly observed, it can only be inferred (from observing at different times)

my notes:
- assess it without the presence of someone else, can it be performed individually
- we cannot see if someone is learning it has to be inferred, can infer it to see if something is being repeated or can test

Question 8

Why Study Motor Behaviour?

Answer 8

1. help to instruct & organize for efficient & effective learning and promote skilled performance (sport, military, clinical) - particularly turn to motor learning for this
2. aid in(re)learning human movements (physio, occupational therapy, rehabilitation) - how do you deliver information and make sure they learn it and actually go and practice it
3. facilitate understanding of why people act and to predict how they will act to prevent errors (human factors/work place safety)

Question 9

Muscle and Brain Activity: EMG

Answer 9

EMG: surface electrode recordings from muscle belly and index of activity (use electrodes and put them on your skin and they can give you some indication of what the muscle is doing)

Question 10

Muscle and Brain Activity: Mobile EEG

Answer 10

developed for meditation purposes so that could capture information mostly from the frontal cortex and figure whether relaxed or engaged

Question 11

What are advantages and limitations of electroencephalography (EEG)?

Answer 11

EEG: surface electrical recording of the brain
advantage: good temporal resolution (see immediate changes) - non invasive
limitation: only captures activity at cortical surface so spatially limited. cannot see specific brain regions

• very time sensitive, so immediately you would see it in the brain (very good at picking up if something is happening)
• not as good as showing where exactly it is happening

Question 12

What are advantages and limitations of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)?

Answer 12

advantage: high spatial resolution (deep resolution in the brain) - good at finding where it is in the brain limitation: not good temporal resolution & expensive - not good time sensitivity

Question 13

fMRI

Answer 13

fMRI: measures blood flow (while engaging in activity)
measure of brain function
* MRI images formed by magnetic fields and radio frequency pulses
* measure BOLD signal (Blood Oxygen Level Dependant) during “activity”

Question 14

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) - not a measure but tools to probe brain

Answer 14

TMS: generates a pulsed magnetic field
* neurons in specific part of the brain depolarize/hyperpolarize
* EXCITE: contraction in muscles (see with EMG)
* INHIBIT: temporary “virtual lesions” (interrupt processes)

Question 15

tDCS

Answer 15

generates low-level electrical current, excite/inhibit areas of brain before an activity
- it is not telling you what is happening, but telling you if a specific part of the brain is engaged in the action
- more probes than measurements, it is a test to find out if particular brain area is involved in the action