Motor control and learning

Question 1

What 3 aspects is movement constrained by

Answer 1

Task/nature of the task, characteristics of the environment and resources of the individual

Question 2

Describe the pathway to initiate movement

Answer 2

Motor control centre (motor cortex) -> motor control centre (brain stem) -> central pattern generators -> motor interneurons -> motor neurons -> muscle
Cerebellum regulates basal ganglia helps
Movement control theories

Question 3

Name all the theories of motor control

Answer 3

Reflex, hierarchical, ecological, motor programming and dynamic systems theories

Question 4

Give a brief point to describe each theory (what it is) and clinical application

Answer 4

Reflex: action – reaction, generate basic movements
Hierarchical: top down control of reflex activity, CNS pathology involves reflex patterns
Ecological: relation to demands of the environment, adaptation to different environments and may vary between individuals
Motor programming: stores movements, allows to relearn and generate movements
Dynamic systems: movement in association with multiple systems and promotes variability

Question 5

What are the 3 stages of procedural learning and describe them

Answer 5

• Cognitive – have to think about it
• Associative – gets less cognitive
• Autonomous – don’t have to think about it

Question 6

What is a closed loop task

Answer 6

Learning with feedback (e.g from mistakes)

Question 7

What is an open looped task

Answer 7

Learning without feedback

Question 8

What are the variables that influence motor learning

Answer 8

Individual (interest, attention etc.), Practice (part or whole etc.) and feedback (intrinsic or extrinsic)