Motor Control 1

Question 1

What is a Motor Behaviour?

Answer 1

a Motor Activity (action) carried out through muscular contraction

Question 2

What is a motor task?

Answer 2

The objective of a motor behaviour to be achieved

Question 3

What is the concept of motor equivalence?

Answer 3

The same motor task can be carried out with different sequences of movements

Question 4

What is the difference between an action and a movement?

Answer 4

Action is an aim, a movement is the way of achieving that aim.

Question 5

What is motor adaptability?

Answer 5

The ability to accomplish the same motor task by adjusting the motor behaviour to different conditions

Question 6

What is feedback control?

Answer 6

Detection of difference between observed and desired measure leads to change

Question 7

What is the proportional feedback control law?

Answer 7

the control variable is proportional to the error (error is multiplied by a ‘gain’)

Question 8

What comprises the CNS?

Answer 8

Brain and spinal cord

Question 9

What comprises the PNS?

Answer 9

Nerves and ganglia

Question 10

What is Grey Matter?

Answer 10

Neural Cell Bodies, Dendrites, Unmyelinated Axons

Question 11

What is white matter?

Answer 11

Myelinated Axons

Question 12

What is the cerebrum?

Answer 12

Largest most superior structure of the CNS

Question 13

What two main structures are included in the cerebrum?

Answer 13

Cerebral cortex and basal ganglia

Question 14

What is the cerebral cortex?

Answer 14

A 2-4mm thick folded sheet of grey matter covering the cerebral hemispheres

Question 15

What is the crest of folded tissue in the cerebral cortex referred to as?

Answer 15

Gyri

Question 16

What is the groove between crests of the tissue of the cerebral cortex referred to as?

Answer 16

Sulci

Question 17

What are the 4 lobes of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 17

Frontal, Temportal, Parietal and Occipital

Question 18

What is the motor cortex?

Answer 18

Area in the frontal lobe anterior to the central sulcus, fundamental for voluntary motor control and deciding/planning actions

Question 19

What is the general function of the Primary Motor Cortex?

Answer 19

Motor commands to motor neurons. Initiation and coordination of voluntary movements

Question 20

What is the general function of the Pre-Motor Cortex?

Answer 20

Organisation of movements before they are initiated

Question 21

What is the general function of the Supplementary Motor area?

Answer 21

Preparation and control of sequential movements

Question 22

What is the basal ganglia?

Answer 22

a set of subcortical neural nuclei strictly interconnected with the cortex and brainstem

Question 23

What are the components of the basal ganglia?

Answer 23

• Striatum (Caudate Nucleum and Putamen)
• Globus Pallidus
• Substantia Nigra
• Subthalamic nucleus

Question 24

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Answer 24

Death of neurons in the subtantia nigra

Question 25

What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease?

Answer 25

• Tremor at rest
• shuffling gait
• bradykinesia (slow voluntary movement)
• akinesia (difficulty initiating movement)
• hypometria (inadequate amplitude of movements

Question 26

What is Huntington’s & Hemiballism?

Answer 26

Lesions in the subthalamic nucleus leading to excess of involuntary movement

Question 27

What is the cerebellum?

Answer 27

Prominent structure situated at the back of the pons (brain stem)

Question 28

What is the general role of the cerebellum?

Answer 28

Motor coordination, posture and balance. Execution of smooth and accurate movements.