Motor Control and Synergy Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the role of dynamical systems theory in contemporary research and scholarship?

It is only influential in certain areas of motor behavior research.

It is as influential as cognitive-based theories such as schema theory. (correct)

It is more influential than cognitive-based theories.

It is not influential compared to cognitive-based theories.

What is the relationship between dynamical systems theory and cognitive-based theories?

Dynamical systems theory has completely replaced cognitive-based theories.

Dynamical systems theory has overshadowed cognitive-based theories.

They are both influential and can be complementary to each other. (correct)

Cognitive-based theories have become irrelevant due to dynamical systems theory.

What is the potential future of dynamical systems approaches in the study of motor behavior?

It will not remain influential in the study of motor behavior.

It is likely to become the dominant theoretical approach.

It will definitely become the dominant theoretical approach.

It is uncertain whether it will remain influential or become the dominant theoretical approach. (correct)

How does dynamical systems theory compare to cognitive-based theories in the design of practice schedules and instructional methods?

It is beginning to exert a pronounced influence on the design of practice schedules and instructional methods. Signup and view all the answers

According to Bernstein, what is one of the most important products of learning?

Clustering of degrees of freedom into cooperating collectives called synergies Signup and view all the answers

How does Bernstein describe synergies?

Temporary and flexible assembled functional organizations that convert components into task-specific coherent ensembles Signup and view all the answers

According to Saltzman and Munhall, what are synergies capable of being?

Assembled and unassembled as needed Signup and view all the answers

What is the nature of synergies according to modern dynamical systems theorists?

Debated and still somewhat of a mystery Signup and view all the answers

According to Bernstein, what do synergies effectively reduce?

The number of degrees of freedom that need to be controlled Signup and view all the answers

What did Bernstein identify as a problem inherent in cognitive-based theories about motor skills?

Context-conditioned variability Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of synergies did Bernstein anticipate as a central idea of dynamical systems theory?

Emergence Signup and view all the answers

Where did Bernstein suggest that the linkages of synergies take place?

In the spinal column among the myriad patterns possible in synaptic connections Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of degrees of freedom refer to in motor control?

The number of different values that the components of a system can assume without violating any geometric or physical laws Signup and view all the answers

What did Bernstein propose as a solution to the problem of complexity in motor control?

To focus on the spinal contributions to action and introduce the concept of synergy Signup and view all the answers

What does synergy refer to in the context of motor control?

The coordination of multiple muscles and joints to achieve a specific movement Signup and view all the answers

What strategy do learners initially adopt when learning a complex skill like a golf swing?

Locking their wrists and elbows to reduce the number of degrees of freedom needing control Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the use of available degrees of freedom over time as a consequence of practice?

Learners begin to relax some muscles and allow some joints to move more freely, gradually increasing the use of available degrees of freedom Signup and view all the answers

What does learning a skill involve according to the text?

A gradual increase in the use of available degrees of freedom and the ability to increasingly control more degrees of freedom Signup and view all the answers

What is the potential benefit of freeing joint movements in motor control?

Individuals have more movement choices available to them to meet changing environmental conditions and exploit them to their advantage Signup and view all the answers

What does learning a skill involve in terms of increasing the degrees of freedom available for coordinating bodily movements?

Increasing the possible movement patterns available to exploit changing environmental conditions Signup and view all the answers

What was Bernstein's concern regarding the role of cortical structures in motor control?

The problem of sufficient complexity to negate any exclusive role for cortical structures such as motor programs Signup and view all the answers

At the cellular level, what is the redundancy of possible patterns of motor unit recruitment for complex skills according to the text?

Can easily reach into many millions Signup and view all the answers

What did Bernstein propose humans must do when performing complex skills?

Reduce the degrees of freedom needing control Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Motor Control and Learning: Bernstein's Concept of Synergy

The concept of degrees of freedom refers to the number of different values that the components of a system can assume without violating any geometric or physical laws.
At the cellular level, the redundancy of possible patterns of motor unit recruitment for complex skills can easily reach into many millions.
Bernstein's concern was the problem of suffi cient complexity to negate any exclusive role for cortical structures such as motor programs.
Bernstein proposed that humans must reduce the degrees of freedom needing control when performing complex skills.
Bernstein's solution was to focus on the spinal contributions to action and introduced the concept of synergy.
Synergy refers to the coordination of multiple muscles and joints to achieve a specific movement.
When initially learning a complex skill like a golf swing, learners adopt a strategy of locking their wrists and elbows to reduce the number of degrees of freedom needing control.
Over time, as a consequence of practice, learners begin to relax some muscles and allow some joints to move more freely, gradually increasing the use of available degrees of freedom.
Learning a skill involves a gradual increase in the use of available degrees of freedom and the ability to increasingly control more degrees of freedom.
As people learn and acquire new skills, they have more degrees of freedom available to them but fewer that they must directly control.
By freeing joint movements, individuals have more movement choices available to them to meet changing environmental conditions and exploit them to their advantage.
Learning involves increasing the degrees of freedom available for coordinating bodily movements, thereby increasing the possible movement patterns available to exploit changing environmental conditions.

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Description

Test your understanding of Bernstein's concept of synergy and the role of degrees of freedom in motor control and learning with this quiz. Explore how humans reduce and gradually increase the degrees of freedom needing control when learning complex skills, and gain insight into the coordination of multiple muscles and joints to achieve specific movements.