Motor Control Theories Part 2

Question 1

Recall schema updates instructions based on

Answer 1

Recognition schema

Question 2

Dynamic pattern theory (aka dynamical systems)

Answer 2

Instructions are influenced by environment and interaction of the body, limb and NS

Question 3

What does dynamic pattern theory describe and explain

Answer 3

Control of coordinated movement emphasizing the role of environmental info and the dynamic properties of body and limbs

Question 4

3 dynamic pattern theory concepts

Answer 4

1. Behaviour changes are sudden and abrupt changes
2. Behaviours are self organized
3. Behaviours are specified by environmental and characteristics/conditions

Question 5

Examples of movement based non-linear change

Answer 5

Walking - transition- running
- changes spontaneously as function of specific speed

Question 6

2. Behaviours are specified by environmental and task characteristics/conditions

Answer 6

Perception/action coupling
- performer-environment interaction is necessary

Question 7

What does performance-environment interaction account for

Answer 7

Skilled performance of open skills
Perception and action

Question 8

Perception

Answer 8

Detect critical info in environment (sensory input)

Question 9

Action

Answer 9

Determine movement control features necessary to achieve goal (motor input)

Question 10

What does behaviours are self organized mean

Answer 10

Specific pattern of limb movement emerges under certain conditions
Resistant to change, likes to be stable

Question 11

How does pattern of movement self organize

Answer 11

Within the characteristic of environmental conditions and limb dynamics (based on what’s efficient)

Question 12

4 terms of dynamic pattern theory

Answer 12

Stability
Attractor states
Order parameters
Control parameters

Question 13

Stability

Answer 13

Behavioural state of a system

Question 14

Stability of a behaviour

Answer 14

• diff from variability
• stable system will spontaneously return to stable state is perturbed
• doesnt like to be in between (ex. Either walk or run)

Question 15

Attractor states

Answer 15

A stable state of the motor control system that leads to behaviour according to preferred coordination patterns (like to be in one attractors state or another)

Question 16

What do stable attractor states include

Answer 16

1. Identified by order parameters
2. Minimum variability between trials
3. Energy efficient

Question 17

Order parameters

Answer 17

Functionally specific and abstract variables that define the overall behaviour of the system

Question 18

What do order parameters enable

Answer 18

A coordinated pattern of movement that can be reproduced and distinguished from other patterns

Question 19

Common examples of order parameters

Answer 19

1. Relative phase
2. Relative timing

Question 20

Relative phase

Answer 20

• movement relationship between segments (joints)
  0 degrees vs 180 degrees
  In phase: same direction
  Anti-phase: opposite direction

Question 21

Relative timing

Answer 21

Represents amount of time for one movement component in proportion to time required to perform the entire movement

Question 22

Control parameters

Answer 22

Variable that influences the stability and character of the order parameter

Question 23

What is changing a control parameter used for

Answer 23

To assess the stability of the order parameter
- aspect can be controlled to change the performance

Question 24

Wha does control parameters determine

Answer 24

Attractor states for patterns of limb movement
Ex. Increasing speed (control parameter) of walking helps determine how stable relative timing (order parameter) is for movement pattern

Question 25

Examples of control parameters

Answer 25

Direction, force, speed, perceptual info

Question 26

When using the same walking, running study what are the components when using dynamic pattern theory

Answer 26

Order parameter- relative timing of gait cycle components
Control parameter- speed
Attractor states- walking or running

Question 27

Why are running and walking not same coordination phase

Answer 27

Different attractor states

Question 28

As walking speed increased what happens

Answer 28

Walking pattern becomes less stable
Transition phase introduced and new coordination pattern (running) emerges that is more stable

Question 29

Unit of control

Answer 29

Functional synergies of muscles and joints act together to produce an action
E.g. reaching for object

Question 30

How do muscle synergies develop

Answer 30

Through practice, experience, or naturally

Question 31

What happens if perturbation stops one set of muscles (synergy) from working

Answer 31

Another works in its place to compensate and complete the task
E.g. walking with cast then without

Question 32

Coordination in dynamic pattern theory

Answer 32

• Order parameters set patterns of movement
• control parameters specify movement characteristics in context to be stable in an attractor state

Question 33

Degrees of freedom in the dynamic pattern theory

Answer 33

Functional synergies used to perform task and compensate for any perturbations