Sensory Motor Control

Question 1

Characteristics of a reflex action?

Answer 1

Simplest motor behaviour
Least affected by voluntary control 
Rapid and involuntary 
Stimulus determines response
Occurs in the spinal cord

Question 2

Characteristics of a rhythmic motor pattern?

Answer 2

E.g. Walking
Initiates and stops are voluntary
Once initiated continues automatically

Question 3

Characteristics of voluntary movement?

Answer 3

Complex
Purposeful and mainly learnt
More practice, less conscious direction needed
Sensory process occurs in the cortex

Question 4

3 classes of information in the somatosensory cortex?

Answer 4

EXTEROCEPTIVE-External environment
PROPRIOCEPTIVE- Body position
INTEROCEPTIVE-Internal pain and unconscious sensation

Question 5

3 pathways from peripheral to CNS?

Answer 5

Receptor to spinal cord
Spinal cord to thalamus
Thalamus to cerebral cortex

Question 6

Pathway for vision?

Answer 6

Retina receptors- optic nerve- optic tract to the occipital lobe

Question 7

Pathway for hearing?

Answer 7

Hair cell cochlea- cochlea nerve- temporal lobe

Question 8

Pathway for somatosensory?

Answer 8

Muscle and skin capsule- sensory fibres- sensory tract- parietal lobe

Question 9

Two sensory pathways?

Answer 9

Dorsal column pathway e.g. tactile sensation

Spinothalamic pathway- nociceptors

Question 10

What makes up the motor centre?

Answer 10

Cerebral cortex
Basal ganglia
Brain stem nuclei
Cerebellum 
Spinal motor neurones
(All input directly or indirectly to the alpha motor neurones. Alpha motor neurones go directly to muscle)

Question 11

What are the three parts of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 11

Primary motor centre
Promoter centre
Supplementary motor area
(Involved in conscious control of movement, communicate with muscle via the the corticospinal tract)

Question 12

Steps in the corticospinal pathway?

Answer 12

Frontal lobe- internal capsule- brain stem- spinal cord- peripheral nerve- muscle

Question 13

What is the Corticospinal tract?

Answer 13

Largest descending motor fibre tract from the brain

Important in fine finger movement

Question 14

Function of the basal ganglia?

Answer 14

Planning and sequencing movements

Question 15

Function of the cerebellum?

Answer 15

Receives propriceptive information directly for sensory system.
Receives information about movement from the cerebral cortex
Coordinates movement on its own side

Question 16

Function of the brain stem and the two parallel neuronal systems?

Answer 16

Controls automatic movement

Lateral and medial system

Question 17

Function of the lateral system of the brain stem?

Answer 17

Proximal muscles of limbs and controlling precise limb movement

Question 18

Function of the medial system of the brain stem?

Answer 18

Controls distal muscles of limbs and posture

Question 19

Function of the spinal cord?

Answer 19

Controls many neural circuits, influenced by the Brain and below

Question 20

Implications for rehabilitation?

Answer 20

Cortical lesions e.g. Stroke
Brainstem lesions e.g. MS
Spinal cord injury e.g. Trauma

Question 21

What are the three classes of movement?

Answer 21

Reflex, rhythmic motor patterns and voluntary movements