Psychology - Sensory Contributions

Question 1

Schmidt & Wrisberg degrees of freedom definition? (2000, p.124)

Answer 1

“The number of components of a control system and the possible ways each can perform.”

Question 2

How can we think of controlling degrees of freedom?

Answer 2

Controlling the movement of the skeleton.

Question 3

Schmidt motor program defintion? (1988, p.266)

Answer 3

“An abstract code or structure that, when executed, results in a movement.”

Question 4

What is the concept of motor program theory? What is not needed?

Answer 4

Movements are planned in advance and then triggered in such a way that they run their course without much modification.
Conscious control is not needed.

Question 5

3 core principles of sensory information?

Answer 5

1. ) We are constrained by our biological makeup.
2. ) Information must come from these basic sources.
3. ) Large amount of info comes from the environment.

Question 6

Exteroception?

Answer 6

Sensitivity to stimuli originating outside of the body.

Question 7

Examples of exteroception?

Answer 7

• Vision e.g. movement of objects, anticipation, spatial/temporal aspects of our own movements.
• Audition e.g. anticipation, awareness.

Question 8

(Vaitl, 1996) Interoception definition?

Answer 8

Describes a broad range of sensory and perceptual mechanisms related to the processing of stimuli emerging from within the body.

Question 9

What “caption” is most relevant for movement control?

Answer 9

Proprioception.

Question 10

“Proprio”?

Answer 10

From within the body.

Question 11

What does proprioception give us?

Answer 11

Information about the body, limb and joint positioning.

Question 12

What does proprioception identify?

Answer 12

Identifies forces/tension produced in muscles, and the orientation of your body in space.

Question 13

Orientation?

Answer 13

Locational awareness.

Question 14

Kinaethesis?

Answer 14

Similar to proprioception but strictly refers to awareness of movement in muscles and joints.

Question 15

“Kines”? “Thesis”?

Answer 15

• Movement

- The sense of

Question 16

What is kinaethesis important for? Examples of sports it’s used in?

Answer 16

Balance, maintaining form and orienting the body in space e.g. cricket, dance, trampolining, diving etc.

Question 17

There is a thin margin between proprioception and kinaethesis as it is…

Answer 17

used synonymously.

Question 18

4 receptors that provide info about kinaesthesis?

Answer 18

1. ) Vestibular apparatus.
2. ) Muscle spindles.
3. ) Golgi tendon organs.
4. ) Cutaneous receptors.

Question 19

Vestibular apparatus? What does it detect? What is it crucial for?

Answer 19

Inner ear.
Detects movement of head.
Crucial for balance.

Question 20

Muscle spindles? What does it give you info about?

Answer 20

Embedded in muscle tissue.

Gives you info about changes in muscle length.

Question 21

What do the Golgi tendon organs signal?

Answer 21

Signal info about the force in muscles.

Question 22

Cutaneous receptors? What do they detect?

Answer 22

In the skin.

Detect pressure, temperature, and touch.

Question 23

Example of paresthesia?

Answer 23

Your arm falling asleep when you lay on it.

Question 24

How is paresthesia caused?

Answer 24

Caused by relatively short duration pressure blocking blood flow to the nerves.

Question 25

Feelings during the ‘asleep’ phase of paresthesia?

Answer 25

Lack of control.

Numbness.

Question 26

Feelings during the ‘waking up’ phase of paresthesia?

Answer 26

• 1st pain and temp
• 2nd control
• 3rd feeling

Question 27

Which nerve fibres wake up quicker during the ‘waking up’ phase of paresthesia?

Answer 27

The smaller nerve fibres.

Question 28

Closed loop control?

Answer 28

A type of control that involves the use of feedback and the activity of error detection and correction processes to maintain the desired state.

Question 29

When is closed loop control used?

Answer 29

Used by people to control slow, deliberate movements.

Question 30

4 components of closed loop control?

Answer 30

1. ) Executive - makes decisions about corrective actions needed.
2. ) Effector - carries out those decisions.
3. ) Feedback - info about the actual state of the system.
4. ) Comparator/Error detection mechanism - compares actual feedback to desired state and relays any difference (i.e. error) to the executive.