Neuroscience Motor function

Cerebral Cortex

• plan + implement movement

• pre-central gyrus (M1)

• origin of cortico-spinal tract

Basal Ganglia

A group of nuclei that are involved in the control of movement and coordination.

Cerebellum

The brain region that coordinates movement, regulates muscle tone, and maintains posture and balance.

Primary motor cortex (M1)

Located in the precentral gyrus, it is the brain region where voluntary movements are initiated.

Praxis

The ability to plan and execute motor movements.

Stereotypical movements

Hard wired patterns of movement that develop as part of normal nervous system maturation.

Automated movements

Movement patterns that initially require conscious control but become automatic once learned.

Ideational praxis

The cognitive ability to understand the motor demands of a task.

Ideomotor planning

The ability to access and execute a motor plan.

Frontal Eye Fields

Brain areas responsible for visual attention and directing visual saccades to stimuli.

Lesions of Basal Ganglia

Damage to basal ganglia that results in problems with initiating, continuing, or stopping movements.

Cerebellar lesions

Damage to the cerebellum that results in loss of coordination, balance, and precision of movements.

Ataxia

A condition characterized by a loss of coordination and balance.

Dysmetria

The inability to judge distance, speed, and power of movements.

Primary sensory cortex (SS1)

The area of the brain that processes sensory information; damage leads to contralateral sensory loss.

Secondary somatosensory cortex (SS2)

The area that synthesizes sensory inputs and attaches meaning to sensory information.

Tactile agnosia

The inability to recognize objects by touch. (umbrella term)

Visual agnosia

The inability to recognize objects by sight.

Auditory agnosia

The inability to recognize sounds.

Motor control Areas

Cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum

Premotor Area

Anterior to M1, plays role in praxis

Supplementary motor area

part of premotor area, bilateral control of posture and praxis

Archicerebellum (flocculonodular) lobe

• Central area

• Recieves info from vestibular nuclei

• Damage = impaired balance and gait

Paleocerebellum (anterior) lobe

• Info from anterior + posterior spinocerebellar tracts

• Damage = difficulty with precision movements

Neocerebellum (posterior) Lobe

• Info from cerebral hemispheres

• Damage = impaired planning anticipatory movements and cognitive function of movement

Motor association area

Plays a role in the cognitive planning of movement

Athetosis

Slow flailing of the upper and lower extremities

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter that modulates the basal ganglia and stimulates the pathway