Motor Control 1 Flashcards
What is a Motor Behaviour?
a Motor Activity (action) carried out through muscular contraction
What is a motor task?
The objective of a motor behaviour to be achieved
What is the concept of motor equivalence?
The same motor task can be carried out with different sequences of movements
What is the difference between an action and a movement?
Action is an aim, a movement is the way of achieving that aim.
What is motor adaptability?
The ability to accomplish the same motor task by adjusting the motor behaviour to different conditions
What is feedback control?
Detection of difference between observed and desired measure leads to change
What is the proportional feedback control law?
the control variable is proportional to the error (error is multiplied by a ‘gain’)
What comprises the CNS?
Brain and spinal cord
What comprises the PNS?
Nerves and ganglia
What is Grey Matter?
Neural Cell Bodies, Dendrites, Unmyelinated Axons
What is white matter?
Myelinated Axons
What is the cerebrum?
Largest most superior structure of the CNS
What two main structures are included in the cerebrum?
Cerebral cortex and basal ganglia
What is the cerebral cortex?
A 2-4mm thick folded sheet of grey matter covering the cerebral hemispheres
What is the crest of folded tissue in the cerebral cortex referred to as?
Gyri
What is the groove between crests of the tissue of the cerebral cortex referred to as?
Sulci
What are the 4 lobes of the cerebral cortex?
Frontal, Temportal, Parietal and Occipital
What is the motor cortex?
Area in the frontal lobe anterior to the central sulcus, fundamental for voluntary motor control and deciding/planning actions
What is the general function of the Primary Motor Cortex?
Motor commands to motor neurons. Initiation and coordination of voluntary movements
What is the general function of the Pre-Motor Cortex?
Organisation of movements before they are initiated
What is the general function of the Supplementary Motor area?
Preparation and control of sequential movements
What is the basal ganglia?
a set of subcortical neural nuclei strictly interconnected with the cortex and brainstem
What are the components of the basal ganglia?
- Striatum (Caudate Nucleum and Putamen)
- Globus Pallidus
- Substantia Nigra
- Subthalamic nucleus
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Death of neurons in the subtantia nigra
What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease?
- Tremor at rest
- shuffling gait
- bradykinesia (slow voluntary movement)
- akinesia (difficulty initiating movement)
- hypometria (inadequate amplitude of movements
What is Huntington’s & Hemiballism?
Lesions in the subthalamic nucleus leading to excess of involuntary movement
What is the cerebellum?
Prominent structure situated at the back of the pons (brain stem)
What is the general role of the cerebellum?
Motor coordination, posture and balance. Execution of smooth and accurate movements.
