Week 9 (MC) - Neural Hierachy, movement origins and motor coordination Flashcards
What is the major components of the motor control system?
Define what they govern
Cerebrum - responsible for conscious planning and control of movement
Brainstem - Directs and moderates movements
Spinal Cord - Directs & Modifies movements
What is the corticospinal tract?
A collection of axons carrying movement related neural information from the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord. Neurons within the tract are known as UMN
What are Upper motor Neurons?
Largest axons in the body
Originating in primary motor cortex locations of cerebrum, with capability of transmitting neural signals down the CNS hierarchy to activate interneurons & Lower Motor Neurons
What are Lower Motor Neurons?
Originating in different spinal locations, LMNs are efferent neurons which connect with UMNs & are responsible for transmitting signals to specific effector muscles to perform movement.
Considered part of the Peripheral Nervous System
What CNS areas are associated with voluntary movement initiation?
What is each components role?
Pre-Frontal cortex
- Planning of intended movements or behaviours
Pre-Motor Cortex
- Ordering and sequencing of limb and body movements over time coordinated
- Important for temporal organisation of motor activity
Motor Cortex
- Initiates and executes isolated or focal movement skills (plans of action)
What happens to cerebral blood flow during motor tasks?
Blood flow increases as participants progress from simple to more complex motor tasks
What happens when there is a lesion in the pre-motor cortex?
Cannot coordinate temporal sequence of bi-manual limb movement
Define the important of the pre motor and motor cortex stimulation on development of movement coordination
Stimulation of the premotor and motor cortex enhances movement coordination by:
- Planning & Executing complex movements
- Learning & Refining motor skills
- Coordinating muscle groups for precise control
- Adapting movements to changing conditions
How does voluntary movement originate?
Neural EFFERENT signalling originates in the pre motor cortex and descends via the brainstem to spinal levels to initiate the control of movement
What is Movement Coordination?
Sequential recruitment and integration of MU within and across muscle to produce smooth, energy efficient movements
What are Synergies?
Muscles working together (co-activation) according to the task requirements
Muscles stabilising joint position while others are task active
TLDR - muscles working together to solve a movement problem
How does somatosensory and motor systems interact?
Afferent somatosensory information travels from sensory apparatus returning to CNS processing areas associated with the somato-sensory cortex
Somoato-sensory neural connections exist with pre-frontal and cortex areas
