Motor Control Flashcards
What is motor control?
Understanding how our neuromuscular system functions to activate and coordinate the muscles and limbs involved in the performance of a motor skill
Motor control is essential for executing both well-known and new motor skills.
Define coordination in the context of motor skills.
The patterning of head, body and/or limb motions relative to each other and to the environmental objects and events
Coordination is crucial for effective movement and interaction with the environment.
What is a skill?
An activity or task that has a specific purpose or goal to achieve, often referred to as ‘skill level’
Skills can vary widely, from cognitive tasks to physical activities.
What are motor skills?
Activities or tasks that require voluntary control over movements of the joints and body segments to achieve a goal
Examples include walking, swimming, and various sports.
What is the purpose of a motor skill?
To cause some changes in the environment or in the person’s relation to the environment
This can involve both physical actions and cognitive assessments.
Fill in the blank: An activity is a motor skill if it is directed toward the attainment of a goal, is performed voluntarily, requires movement of joints and body segments, and has been acquired by _______.
experience/practice
What does skill level relate to in motor skills?
The degree of competence to perform a task, indicating the quality of performance
The notion of expertise often encompasses skill level.
What are the criteria to determine an individual’s skill level?
- Consistent
- Adaptable
- Efficient
These criteria help assess how well someone can perform a motor skill.
Define performance in the context of motor skills.
The behavioral act of executing a motor skill at a specific time and in a specific situation
Performance can vary between unskilled (novice) and skilled (expert) individuals.
What is motor learning?
Changes in the capability of a person to perform a skill resulting from practice or experience
Motor learning includes acquisition, performance enhancement, and reacquisition of motor skills.
What are the key aspects emphasized in motor learning?
- Acquisition of motor skills
- Performance enhancement of learned motor skills
- Reacquisition of difficult skills
- Reacquisition of skills lost due to injury or disease
What are movements in the context of motor learning?
Specific patterns of motion among joints and body segments used to accomplish action goals
Movements are the component parts of a motor skill.
Describe the relationship between movements and motor skills.
- Many movements for the same motor skill goal (many-to-one)
- The same movement for various motor skill goals (one-to-many)
What are neuromotor processes?
Mechanisms within the central and peripheral nervous systems as well as the muscular systems that control movements and motor skills
Why differentiate between movements, motor skills, and neuromotor processes?
- Represents the order of motor control/learning priorities
- Highlights emphasis at different stages of learning
- Recognizes individual differences in achieving action goals
What can be measured when pressing a button?
- Velocity
- Force
- Speed
Define abilities in the context of motor performance.
A general trait or capacity of an individual that determines a person’s achievement potential
What are motor abilities?
Abilities specifically related to the performance of a motor skill, such as multilimb coordination.
List the characteristics of abilities.
- Stable
- Inherited traits
- Few in number
- Underlie performance of many skills
How do skills differ from abilities?
- Modified by practice
- Developed
- Many in number depending on subsets of abilities
What is the usefulness of classifying skills?
- Simplifies discussion
- Allows comparison across research
- Provides context for coaches/therapists
What is the first classification of skills based on?
Size of musculature used
What does the input-output model in performance measurement consist of?
Input → Human performer → Output (performance)
Why is measuring performance important?
- Understand skilled performance
- Infer learning/re-learning
- Compare individuals/groups
