Motor Control Intro

Question 1

Motor Control

Answer 1

Subdiscipline of human movement studies concerned with understanding the processes that are responsible for the acquisition, performance and retention of motor skills

Question 2

Subdisciplines of motor control

Answer 2

• Motor Performance
• Motor Learning
• Motor development

Question 3

Components of the nervous system

Answer 3

• Peripheral System Vs. Central Nervous System
• Efferent Vs. Afferent Signals
• Action Potentials

Question 4

Sensory Systems involved in Human Movement

Answer 4

• Visual
• Kinesthetic
• Vestibular

Question 5

Visual System

Answer 5

Role:

• Determining the location of objects in the external environment (Exteroception)
• Determining the position/orientation fo the body relative to the external environment

Question 6

Kinesthetic System

Answer 6

Role:

• Determining the orientation of body segments relative to each other (Proprioception)
• Determining the movement of individual body segments
• Determine the orientation of the body in relation to the external environment (same as visual)

Question 7

Receptors of Kinesthetic System

Answer 7

• Muscle spindles (stretch reflex)
• Golgi tendon organs
• Joint Receptors
• Touch Receptors

Question 8

Motor Control areas of the brain

Answer 8

Primary Somatosensory: anterior to central sulcus (head & neck)
Motor: posterior to central Primary sulcus (Swallowing)

Question 9

How do we quantify the Center Of Pressure (COP)?

Answer 9

• Root-Mean-Square (RMS): This measure gives an indication of the magnitude of the sway
• Mean Power Theory (MPF): this measure gives an idea of frequency of the sway

Question 10

Homonculus

Answer 10

Grooves of the brain that control a certain body part

Question 11

Explain the stretch reflex in relation to the patellar nerve

Answer 11

• when the patellar tendon of the quadricep muscles is stretched, the stretch is detected by the golgi tendon organ which is then detected by stretch receptors (muscle spindles)
• muscle spindle then stimulates sensory neurons which tells quads to contract

Question 12

Receptors in the kinesthetic system and what they do

Answer 12

1. Muscle spindles (stretch receptors) - > primarily detect changes in the length of the muscle - > one role: stretch reflex
2. Golgi Tendon Organs - > proprioceptive sensory receptor organ that senses changes in muscle tension tells us our muscle is pulling and generating force
3. Joint receptors - > tells your brain how your joints are oriented in space (i.e. your knee is bent)
4. Touch Receptors - > sensory neuron that are located in the skin and possess specialized endings that respond to mechanical stimulation