Lecture 2 - Motor Control Methods and Equipment

Question 1

Describe one example of measurement of performance outcome, and one example of measurement of performance production

Answer 1

See tables
Performance output=motor skill =number of errors/amount of error
Performance production = motor movement = EEG, EMG

Question 2

How do we describe the outcome of movements

Answer 2

Error
Time/speed
Movement magnitude
Secondary-task performance

Question 3

What are the four types of error

Answer 3

1) Absolute error –> global measure, no direction
2) Continuous error –> Provides magnitude and direction, no information on scatter or variability
3) Variable error –> standard deviation of continuous error, measures inconsistency in movement outcomes
4) RMS error –> Variable error for continuous movement

Question 4

What are 3 different RT tests

Answer 4

1) simple RT –> one stimulus one response
2) choice RT –> each stimuli has different response
3) discrimination RT –> multiple stimuli, one warrants response

Question 5

Define reaction time, movement time, and response time

Answer 5

Reaction time –> time between stimulus onset and onset of response
Movement time –> between initiation and completion of movement
Response time –> sum of RT and MT

Question 6

How do you evaluate dual-task paradigm

Answer 6

If performance on either task is lower than when done in isolation, then tasks interfere, and compete for same info processing resources

Question 7

What are the 3 systems used in maintaining posture, and how do we test postural sway

Answer 7

6 conditions –> standing (all 3), eyes closed (no vision), surround sway referencing (no vision), support sway referencing (no somatosensory), surround and support sway referencing (no vision or somatosensory), support surface sway referencing with eyes closed (no vision or somatosensory)

Question 8

How do we measure kinematics?

Answer 8

Goniometers, motion capture (active and passive), accelerometers

Question 9

How do we study brain activity?

Answer 9

EEG, single cell recording, TMS, tDCS, fMRI

Question 10

What is single-cell recording

Answer 10

recording brain activity through electrode

Used for spinal cord injuries (think about movement, electrode captures and decodes brain activity and drives movement)

Question 11

What is TMS

Answer 11

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
use magnetic pulse to activate neuron
Cause virtual lesions to investigate function
Assess recovery of function

Question 12

What is tDCS

Answer 12

transcranial direct current stimulation

changes membrane potential of neurons