Motor Control Theories

Reflex Theory

Movement is controlled by stimulus-response

Reflexes are the basis for movement and combine into actions that create behavior

Hierarchical Theory

Nervous system is organized as a hierarchy, with reflexes being inhibited by higher centers

Hierarchically organized reflex responses are the basis for equilibrium

Motor Programming Theory

Cortex generates a motor outcome and is not involved in details of how the outcome was achieved

Generalized motor programs and central pattern generators serve as a network based on the cortex generating a motor outcome and neurons within the spinal cord work together as a whole to produce rhythmic, patterned motor commands

Systems Theory

Movement is directed by dynamic, interacting systems (whole body approach)

Movement emerges to control degrees of freedom

Natural development of functional synergies via practice and experience to assist in the coordination of muscles and joint movements all at once

Dynamic Action Theory

Takes into consideration self-organization with the relationship of the individual body characteristics and the environment

Issue: CNS is less emphasized as the source of control for movement

Implications: accounts for interaction of multiple elements, includes some emphasis on physical properties

Systems (Shumway-Cook)

Movements are organized around functional goals (interactions between the individual, their environment, and the task)

Implications: use of functional tasks, variable practice conditions, environmental modifications

Ecological Theory

Person, task, and environment interact to influence a motor behavior and motor learning

Perception to guide actions develops early

Motor control developed through basic needs drive (food, shelter, escaping predators)

Issue: CNS is less emphasized as the control of movement

Implications: expands the interaction of individual and environment with the role of ‘active exploration’, intervention implications in the way that people may adapt to accomplish a task

Neuromaturational (Motor Development)

Invarient development set that is tightly correlated to the CNS, developing proximal to distal

Recently modified to acknowledge the variation in sequence and input from all systems

Cognitive (motor development)

Thinking develops in stages of increasing complexity; mental schemes are organized through mental operations

Behavioral (motor development)

Behaviors are shaped by the environment, with most behaviors being learned responses

Used in Applied Behavior Analysis

Psychoanalytical/Psychosocial (Motor development)

Humans have biologically determined drives and unconscious conflicts

Self actualization follows initial need drive for survival (ie basic needs come first)

Ecological/contextual (Motor development)

Environment has a strong influence on the development of behaviors

Systems/Dynamic Systems (Motor Development)

Movement emerges based on the internal milieu, external environment, and task

Movement is directed by dynamic, interacting systems

Neuronal Group Selection (Motor development)

Infant motor development with increased and decreased periods of variability resulting from CNS changes

The structure and function of neural networks created via genetic coding in infant development and environmental exposure/active movement related to behavioral experience