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Neuroscience > The Motor System > Flashcards

The Motor System Flashcards

1
Q

Areas of importance for Motor System

A

Basal Ganglia
Cerebellum
Motor Cortex
Brainstem Centres
Spinal Cord and Brainstem Circuits

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2
Q

Basal Ganglia and movement

A

Gating proper initiation of movement
A regulatory system

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3
Q

Cerebellum in motor system

A

Sensory motor coordination
A regulatory system

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4
Q

Motor Cortex in Motor system

A

Planning initiating and directing voluntary movements
Receives input from regulatory systems

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5
Q

Brainstem centres in the motor system

A

Basic movements and postural control

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6
Q

Where are action potentials initiated in the motor system?

A

Corticospinal tract
Upper Motor Neurons
CNS and PNS

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7
Q

Where are muscular contractions initiated in the motor system?

A

Neuromuscular junction
Lower Motor Neurons
PNS

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8
Q

Where is movement execution initiated in the motor system?

A

Basal ganglia
Muscles
Cerebellum
Spinal cord
CNS and PNS

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9
Q

Where is sensory feedback initiated in the motor system?

A

Dorsal column pathways
Sensory neurons
Spinocerebellar pathways
CNS and PNS

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10
Q

Where is neuronal activity initiated in the motor system?

A

Supplementary motor area
Motor cortex
Premotor cortex
CNS

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11
Q

Role of the motor cortex

A

Its functions are voluntary movements, skill acquisition and motor learning.
Neural encoding for direction control and movement speed

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12
Q

Main pathways in the motor system

A

The corticospinal and the pyramidal tracts.

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13
Q

Motor Maps

A

Motor maps are necessary for body part representation and somatotopic

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14
Q

Role of the Basal Ganglia

A

Comprise 4 interconnected nuclei that influence behaviour by regulating the activities of the upper motor neurons
Receives input from the motor cortex, sensory feedback and other brain areas. It sends signals to the thalamus and the motor cortex.

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15
Q

Nuclei of the basal ganglia

A

Striatum
Globus Pallidus
Subthalamic nucleus
Substantia nigra

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16
Q

Striatum

A

Composed of the caudate nucleus and the putamen nucleus.
Where the information comes to, then is processed by the other nuclei

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17
Q

Globus Pallidus (GP)

A

Divided into an internal (GPi) and external (GPe) segments
Main output nuclei of the BG

18
Q

Subthalamic Nucleus (STN)

A

Only excitatory nucleus in the basal ganglia
Part of the indirect pathway

19
Q

Substantia Nigra (SN)

A

Divided into a pars compacta (SNc) and a pars reticulata (SNr)
Dopamine

20
Q

Direct vs indirect basal ganglia pathways

A

The direct pathway facilitates movement, and the indirect pathway inhibits unwanted movements.

21
Q

Primary Motor Cortex (M1)

A

Executes voluntary movements , Somatotopic organisation.
Generates action potential,
Sends signals via the corticospinal tract

22
Q

Premotor Cortex

A

Plans and prepares movements,
Integrates sensory information.
Interacts with the basal ganglia and cerebellum and coordination

23
Q

Supplementary Motor Area (SMA)

A

Plans and coordinates complex movements
Sequential and bimanual actions
Receives sensory feedbacks
Adjusts movements in real-time

24
Q

Relationship between basal ganglia and motor cortex is crucial for the _ and _ of voluntary movements

A

Initiation and regulation
The basal ganglia act as a gate keeper, facilitating the selection of appropriate motor plans while inhibiting unwanted actions through a complex feedback loop.
Optimised motor output for smooth and coordinated actions

25
Q

Input to BG from prefrontal cortex

A

Sends signals to the basal ganglia for processing
* Cognitive function
* Decision making
* Attention
* Working memory

26
Q

Basal Ganglia Processing Loop

A

Cognitive loop
Limbic loop
Modulates emotional responses and reward-based learning

27
Q

Cognitive loop of BG

A

Direct pathway: Facilitates cognitive actions and decisions
Indirect pathway: Inhibits irrelevant thoughts and actions

28
Q

Limbic loop of BG

A

Receives input from the Limbic System
Emotions, motivation etc

29
Q

How does the BG modulate emotional responses and reward-based learning?

A

Dopamine modulation
Regulates emotional and cognitive processing

30
Q

Output of the BG

A

Refines cognitive decisions and sends signals back to the prefrontal cortex for goal-oriented behaviour
Influences emotional responses and modulates motivation to feed to the limbic system for reward-based behaviours.

31
Q

Structure of the cerebellum

A

Made of:
* Spinocerebellum
* Cerebrocerebellum
* Vestibulocerebellum

32
Q

Spinocerebellum

A

Muscle Tone Regulation and Limb Movement Coordination
Feedback Processing
Important for real-time adjustments
Facilitates adaptive control

33
Q

Cerebrocerebellum

A

Movement Planning and Fine Motor Control
Motor Learning
Sensory integration for Refinement
Crucial for planning and initiation

34
Q

Vestibulocerebellum

A

Balance Maintenance
Regulates postural stability
Coordinates eye and hand movements

35
Q

Afferent Neuron

A

Sensory

36
Q

Efferent neuron

A

Motor

37
Q

Reflexes

A

Rapid, predictable, and involuntary responses to stimuli, serving as the building blocks of the motor system’s functionality.

38
Q

Reflex arcs

A

The neural pathways involved in reflex actions,
Facilitate rapid communication between sensory receptors and motor neurons, allowing for instantaneous responses that bypass higher brain centres

39
Q

Role of reflexes

A

Maintaining posture, balance, and protective responses, contributing to the body’s homeostasis and survival.

40
Q

Muscle stretch reflex

A
  1. Stretching stimulates sensory receptor
  2. Sensory neuron excited
  3. Within integrated centre (spinal cord) sensory neuron activates motor neuron
  4. Motor neuron excited
  5. Effector (same muscle) contracts and relieves the stretching

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