kin 211 Lecture 1: Introduction to Motor Behaviour

three sub disciplines in the field of motor behaviour

motor control, motor learning/skill acquisition, motor development

motor control

determines what constrains the neuromuscular system in carrying out movements

what does motor control involve

CNS plans and executes movement based on incoming sensory and environmental factors that constrain and promote movement

motor learning

observed behavior that is a function of practice and experience

related to skill acquisition

how a relatively permanent change in motor behavior arises from practice or experience

motor learning is concerned with

understanding how we learn to perform skilled movements

skill acquisition

how we learn to perform skilled movements

Motor learning gives rise to what kind of change

a relatively permanent change in motor behavior from practice or experience

true or false: learning can be directly observed

false. learning cannot be directly observed. it can only be inferred

how is learning inferred

from observing at different times

how is motor learning different from motor development

Motor development is about observed behaviour due to maturation/aging
Motor learning is observed behavior due to practice

motor behaviour is a consequence of

3 constraints:

1. Task

2. Individual/person

3. Environment

the 3 constraints affect

how we move & learn

2 attributes of behavior

1. it is a consequence of constraints

2. it is observable (measurable)

in research, we look for

GENERAL principles of behavior, whilst appreciating constraints on seeing this behavior

e.g. when swimming, what are the person constraints

shape, height, reach, weight, motivation, personality, etc.

e.g. when swimming, what are the environment constraints

water temperature, size of pool, take off board, people watching, etc.

e.g. when swimming, what are the task constraints

type of race, stroke, competition, rules, instructions, etc.

in the swimming example, all three constraints affect

behavior and how well an individual swims

e.g. goalkeeper making a save. what are the constraints?

individual is height, age, arm reach, etc.

environmental is sun, visibility, rain, crowd

task is rules/instructions like penalty kick, can you move before the ball is kicked? etc.

true or false: environmental and task constraints may sometimes be shared

true

for the soccer example, what is something that could be environmental and also task

ball size

studying motor behavior helps

1. Develop practice that is efficient and effective for learning

2. Promote skilled performance in sport, military, clinical/rehab.

studying motor behaviour facilitates

1. Understanding of why people act

2. Predict how they will act to prevent errors like human factors and work place safety

how de we study motor behaviour

with tools which include movement and eye tracking, muscle and brain activity

movement and eye tracking

videos such as go pro and video softwares, 3D motion tracking, eye tracking. all can be used to study motor behaviour

how is muscle activity measured

EMG

EMG

electromyography

EMG measures are related to

reaction time. it tells us something is about to come.

how do EMGs work

surface electrode recordings from muscle belly. index of activity*

how is brain activity measured

EEG, fMRI

EEG

electroencephalomyography

fMRI

functional magnetic resonance imaging

true or false: there are mobile EEGs that we can wear

true

EEG records what

surface electrical recording of the brain

advantage of EEG

good temporal resolution. allows us to see immediate changes

2 limitations of EEG

1. Poor spatial resolution: cortical surface captured only

2. cannot pinpoint specific brain regions

what does fMRI measure

blood flow

fMRI is a measure of

brain function using BOLD signals which gives good spatial resolution

MRI images are formed by

magnetic fields and radio frequency pulses

fMRI measures

BOLD signal during activity

BOLD

blood oxygen level dependent

advantage of fMRI

high spatial resolution. can geet deep resolution in the brain

limitation of fMRI

not good temporal resolution and is expensive

TMS

transcranial magnetic stimulation

true or false: TMS is a measure of brain activity *

false, it is not a measure but a tool to probe brain processes/function

TMS does what

generates a pulse of magnetic field causing neurons in specific parts of the brain to depolarize (excite) /hyperpolarize (inhibit)

what can we see with TMS (example)*

what areas of the brain are involved in speech

What can we see on EMG when TMS excites?

TMS can cause muscle contractions which can be caught on EMG

when TMS inhibits,

It can create temporary "virtual lesions" in the brain, disrupting processes and simulating the effects of brain damage.*

summary now...

to measure behaviour and make inferences about how movement is controlled, we can use

tools like video devices, motion analysis trackers, eye trackers, brain imaging devices. we can also interfere/probe brain processes using TMS to see if and how a brain area is involved in the movement.