chapter 1 motor control

field of motor control

directed at studying nature of movement and how the movement is controlled

motor control

ability to regulate and direct the mechanisms essential to movement

3 factors that movement emerges from…

Individual, task, environment

motor/action systems

neuromuscular and biomechanics systems. can be thought of as the “hardware”

sensory/perceptual systems

essential to control functional movement. provides information about the state of the body and the environment

perception

integration of sensory impressions into psychologically meaningful information

cognitive systems

includes attention, planning, problem solving, motivation, and emotional aspects of motor control that underlie establishment of intent or goals

Types of tasks in the Venn diagram include:

mobility, postural control, upper extremity function

open movement

adapt movement strategies to constantly changing and unpredictable environment. ex: playing volleyball

closed movement

relatively fixed or predictable environments in which movement occurs. ex: walking on a treadmill

discrete movement

movement that has a recognizable beginning and end. ex: serving a volleyball

continuous movement

movement that the end point of the task in not an inherent characteristic of the task, instead is determined by the individual. ex: running

stability movements

tasks that are performed with a non-moving base of support

mobility movements

tasks that require a moving base of support

manipulation movements

tasks that involve the movement of upper extremities

non-manipulation movements

tasks that don’t involve the movement of upper extremities

regulatory features

aspects of environment that shape movement itself. directly impact that movement

non-regulatory features

features of environment may affect performance, but movement does not have to conform to these features

theory of motor control

a group of abstract ideas about the control of movement. take information and put it together to try to make sense of it

reflex theory

complex behavior is explained through combined action of individual reflexes chained together. Ex: when you poke a slug it moves

hierarchical theory

organizational control, top→ down. each higher level exerts control over a lower level. fails to account for bottom-up movement

motor programming theory

programs for common movements are “stored” and executed when called upon. motor programs have consistent features.

ecological theory

perception/action system actively explores environment to satisfy goals. uses the best movement for the environment/goal.

systems theory

TIME. cannot understand neural control of movement without understanding the system you are moving and the external/internal forces acting on the body

coordination of movement

process of mastering the redundant degrees of freedom of the moving organism

synergies

play role in solving degrees of freedom problem coordination of muscle group that act together to perform specific movements

dynamic systems theory

new movement emerges because of a critical change in one of the systems (control parameter). variability is a necessary condition of optimal function

control parameter

variable that regulates change in the behavior of the entire system

attractor states

highly stable, preferred patterns of movement