W6 - Alternative Motor Control Theories

Question 1

Define a Motor Program

Answer 1

An abstract representation, that when initiated results in the production of a coordinated movement sequence (Schmidt)

Question 2

What is a Generalised Motor Program?

Answer 2

A motor program whose expression can be varied depending on the choice of certain parameters (Schmidt)

Question 3

In a perfect world, how would motor programs work?

Answer 3

• Motor programs give the exact same output each time
• Perfectly executable & repeatable
• You have perfect control
• However, for human conditions the continuity of doing the same movement should be an issue

Question 4

How do motor programs work the a real world ?

Answer 4

• There is noise in all systems so outputs differ
• Nothing is perfectly repeatable
• There is no perfect control
• There is noise in all systems (e.g.: environment, people)

Question 5

What are the none controllable elements of a motor program?

Answer 5

• Noise
• Cannot get perfect control
• Taking different approaches and ideas
  
  • e.g.: the weather

Question 6

Why are mean and SD not fully reliable to gain a perfect understanding?

Answer 6

• Need measures which take into account how the signal changes or develops over time.
• Signal Complexity Information Content
• Ways to analyse the curves e.g. Approximate Entropy (how complicated it is) Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (how it might change over time)
• Different patterns of the curves even with the same mean and SD

Question 7

Describe the factors of a dynamical system

Answer 7

• Nonlinear
  
  • Fractals - partial dimensions
  • Chaos - not/hard to predict
  • Emergence
  • Constraints
  • Self-organising
  • (Ecological Psychology – perception & action)

Question 8

Why is it difficult to make future predictions with motor programs?

Answer 8

• Not being able to predict what your system is doing in the future is the non-linear, noisy world we live in
• This is good for sports, or it would be very boring » and bad for bookies

Question 9

What is meant by:
- prescription
- constraints

Answer 9

• Prescription - define everything that is to happen and how (motor programs) - must be as perfect as possible
• Constraints – restrict certain things from happening (or make occur) - avoid worst case scenario
  Long standing debates between them