Basics of movement and decision making

Describe types of movement

Simple reflex

Postural change and posture

Locomotion like running t

Sensory orientation

Species specific

Acquired skills

Describe voluntary and rhythmic movements

Voluntary are under conscious control by Brian

Rhythmic movement is controlled by spinal or brain circuitry and produced by spinal cord local circuit called central pattern generator

How do you get sustained movement

First a single action potential travelling down a lower motor neuron leads to a single muscle twitch and when multiple action potentials arrive fast a large prolonged contraction happens because the multiple neurons are activating many muscle fibres at the same time these are tetanic contractions which are needed for strong sustained muscle contraction

Describe the difference in muscle fibre movements during fine movement versus gross

Find movements activate fewer muscle fibres than gross movements do

What kind of control do upper motor neurons have

Descending control of local circuits in brain and spinal cord