Lecture 24 - Motor control

Question 1

Neurons involved in decisions to move, planning the desired movement outcome

Answer 1

Prefrontal cortex

Question 2

Neurons involved in organising movement sequences to achieve the outcome

Answer 2

Premotor cortex

Question 3

Neurons involved in producing specifc movement

Answer 3

Primary motor cortex

Question 4

Stores and facilitates learning planning and execution of motor programmes
Monitors and compares sensory input
Organises timing of muscle contractions

Answer 4

Cerebellum

Question 5

Decision to move
Signals sent to premotor cortex

Answer 5

Prefrontal cortex

Question 6

Select movement sequences
Signals sent to primary motor cortex, basal nuclei and cerebellum

Answer 6

Premotor cortex

Question 7

Inititate movement
Signals sent down corticospinal pathway

Answer 7

Primary motor cortex

Question 8

Modify movement
Signals sent back and forth to each other as well as to frontal cortex and down descending pathways

Answer 8

Basal nuclei and cerebellum

Question 9

Briefly explain the corticospinal pathway process

Answer 9

Upper motor neurons in primary motor cortex fire action potentials that propogate along axons extending down the spinal cord
To activate lower motor neurons in spinal cord, to fire action potentials that propogate along axons within peripheral nerves
To skeletal muscle

Question 10

Made of a single lower motor neuron plus all the skeletal muscle fibres it innervates

Answer 10

Motor units

Question 11

A motor neuron plus the few muscle fibres it activates
Can produce more precise movement eg tongue, hand, lips

Answer 11

Small motor unit

Question 12

A motor neuron plus the many muscle fibres it activates
Can produce more forceful movement eg in limbs

Answer 12

Large motor unit