EHR330 Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key concepts, definitions, and mechanisms related to motor control, the nervous system, and sensory-motor integration, which are essential for exam preparation.

Motor Control Theory

Describes how the nervous system produces coordinated movement during motor skill performance.

Degrees of Freedom Problem

The number of independent elements in a system and how each can act.

Coordination

The organization of muscles to act as functional units.

Coordination Structures

Groups of muscles constrained to function together; develop through practice or naturally.

Perception-Action Coupling

Linking of information and actions/movements in motor control.

Sensory-Motor Integration

Process where sensory input triggers efferent motor responses and modifies motor behavior.

Neuromuscular Control

The efferent motor response to sensory afferent input.

Proprioceptors

Sensory receptors that provide information about joint position and movement.

Feed-Forward Control

Planning movements based on past experiences; initiates a motor response in anticipation.

Feedback Control

Regulates muscle activity continuously through reflexive pathways.

Muscle Stiffness

Ratio of change in force to change in length; stiffer muscles resist stretching.

Neuroscience

Study of the nervous system function and its relationship to behavior.

Neuroanatomy

Study of the anatomy and organization of the nervous system.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Consists of afferent and efferent axons in the nervous system.

Dorsal Ramus

The branch of spinal nerves that supplies posterior structures.

Ventral Ramus

The branch of spinal nerves that forms nerve plexuses for anterior structures.

Cranial Nerves (CNs)

12 pairs of nerves that transmit information between the CNS and PNS.

Dermatome

Area of skin innervated by a single spinal segment.

Myotome

Amount of muscle innervated by a single spinal segment.

Local Potential

Initial change in membrane potential that spreads a short distance along the membrane.

Action Potential

Brief, large depolarization in electrical potential that is propagated along the axon.

Receptor Potentials

Generated at peripheral receptors from modality-gated channels.

Synaptic Potentials

Generated at a postsynaptic membrane from ligand-gated channels.

Absolute Refractory Period

Period during which the membrane is unresponsive to stimuli.

Relative Refractory Period

Period during which the membrane may be hyperpolarized and can respond to strong stimuli.

Divergence

Multiple inputs from various cells terminate on a single neuron.

Convergence

A single neuron synapses with multiple inputs, integrating information.

Microglia

Immune cells in the CNS that clean up debris and are activated during injury.

Multiple Sclerosis

An autoimmune disease that attacks myelin in the CNS, leading to various neurological symptoms.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Acute inflammation and demyelination of peripheral nerves, often following infection.

Spinal Reflexes

Automatic responses that involve sensory and motor pathways to protect the body.

Crossed Extensor Reflex

A reflex response to lift a limb and simultaneously stabilize the opposite limb.

Reciprocal Inhibition

Decreased activity in antagonist muscles when an agonist is activated.