Motor Development Flashcards
Neural-maturationalist Theory
predetermined pattern of development that is minimally altered by environment
Bad because it implies behavior is minimally altered by environment
Environmental theory
Your experiences determine who you are/will be
Not true because you can be born with more ability
Cognitive theory
●Behavioral theory
●Reinforcement from the environment spurs on motor and cognitive development
Dynamical systems theory
●Not hierarchical, rather interactions of structures, processes and the environment with some optimization function (what you strive to do)
●Task specific
●Development appears to be “stage-like” rather than continuous.
●Rate limiting factor
True or False: development occurs cephalocaudally and proximodistally
Probably false, it’s probably anthropometric
What is experience expectant neural maturation
USE IT OR LOSE IT
●Born with excessive synaptic connections-those that are not used die out
●an appropriate # of connections will survive to meet peripheral needs
What is experience-dependent neural maturation?
exposure increases the connectivity of the synapses that are present
What is periodic equilibrium?
●Development is characterized by an alternating pattern of flexion/extension and symmetry/asymmetry
●At different developmental stages, different patterns dominate
What are the sensorimotor variables of motor control?
Physiological mechanisms ●central pattern generators ---spinal neural circuits ●premotor cortical areas (synergies) ●motion dependent feedback
What are the mechanical variables of motor control?
●body mass
●changes in proportional mass
●changes in body segment mass
●Inertia
What are the cognitive variables of motor control?
●arousal ●motivation ●anticipatory strategies ●feedback ●memory ●practice
***Arousal and motivation are two similar concepts as a learner needs to have the cognitive affect to learn or be engaged (not sleeping, sleepy and not over-stimulated)
What are some examples of anticipatory strategies?
●postural adjustments ( i.e. prior to reaching) to reduce disturbance to equilibrium
●hand orientation prior to grasp in transit (as early as 9 months)
What is a likely cause of anticipatory strategies?
FEEDFORWARD MECHANISM
probably mediated by spinal cord interneurons, brain stem networks and transcortical loops.
What is an anticipatory strategy?
Feedforward
●a “program” for muscle timing, activation, which primary, stabilizing, agonist, antagonist muscles are needed
●limits amount of attention needed
What are the 3 systems of postural control?
●visual
●vestibular
●somatosensory
