Neuro L. 24 - Motor Control/Learning Flashcards
What distinguishes voluntary movements from reflexive movements?
Voluntary control doesn’t need an external stimulus and improves with experience.
What are the phases of voluntary movement?
- Target identification: posterior parietal cortex (spatial relationships)
- Planning of action: premotor cortex
- Execution of action: primary motor cortex.
What role does the cerebellum play in movement?
The cerebellum has a feedback role.
What role does the basal ganglia play in movement?
The basal ganglia has a feedforward role.
When does the primary somatosensory cortex fire in relation to movement?
The primary somatosensory cortex fires AFTER the start of movement.
Where do cortical changes due to plasticity occur in relation to the motor cortex?
Cortical changes occur in the somatosensory cortex BEFORE the motor cortex.
How is movement controlled in the nervous system?
Lower parts (spinal cord) handle simple things, while higher parts (brain cortex) handle complex planning.
What is the sequence of how movement is controlled across different brain regions?
Motor planning → motor optimization → instructions → movement production → action.
What is motor planning?
Motor planning involves thinking about and preparing to move.
What role do putamen and globus pallidus (GP) play in movement?
They help plan and initiate movement.
What does the premotor cortex do?
The premotor cortex plans which movements to make based on goals.
What is the function of the cerebrocerebellum?
The cerebrocerebellum helps fine-tune plans based on past experience.
What is motor optimization?
Motor optimization involves adjusting and refining the movement plan.
What role does the vestibulocerebellum play?
The vestibulocerebellum is involved in balance.
What does the spinocerebellum monitor?
The spinocerebellum monitors body position and improves ongoing movement.
What is the purpose of sending instructions in movement?
Instructions send the ‘move now’ signal to muscles.
What does the thalamus do in relation to the motor cortex?
The thalamus relays the finalized movement plan to the motor cortex, which sends commands to muscles.
What is the role of the pedunculopontine nucleus and midbrain locomotor region?
They coordinate walking and rhythmic movements.
What is involved in movement production and corrections?
Movement production involves actually moving and making small fixes.
What is action in the context of movement?
Action is the final, visible movement.
What is synapse modification in motor learning?
Learning is a form of synaptic plasticity.
What are the short-term changes in motor learning?
Short-term changes involve alterations in neural transmission.
What are the long-term changes in motor learning?
Long-term changes involve alterations in gene expression and protein synthesis.
What does long-term memory require for new synapse formation?
Long-term memory requires protein synthesis to form new synapses.
