Motor Control Theories and Body Stability

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Questions and Answers

What defines stability in the context of body stability (BOS)?

Non-moving BOS (correct)

Positioning the upper body

Walking or running

Dynamic movements

Which theory of motor control emphasizes the integration of reflexes as the basis of movement?

Reflex Theory (correct)

Motor Programming Theory

Ecological Theory

Dynamic Systems Theory

Which limitation is associated with Reflex Theory?

It incorporates voluntary movement

It explains complex, novel movements

It accounts for variable responses to the same stimulus

It cannot explain movements occurring without sensory input (correct)

What is a primary function of theories of motor control in clinical practice?

To serve as a framework for interpreting behavior Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes manipulation movements from non-manipulation movements?

Movement of upper extremities to change the environment Signup and view all the answers

What is a key cognitive factor in purposeful movement?

Attention Signup and view all the answers

Which system integrates sensory information into meaningful data during movement?

Peripheral sensory system Signup and view all the answers

What do the neural mechanisms for task categories such as stability and manipulation address?

Demands of the task Signup and view all the answers

Which component is NOT considered part of the action aspect of movement?

Perception of surroundings Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of movement does cognition primarily encompass?

Attention and planning Signup and view all the answers

What influences the 'degrees of freedom' in motor control?

The number of joints and muscles involved Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the roles of the sensory/perceptual system in movement?

To provide information about body state Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a factor affecting individual constraints in movement?

Personal beliefs Signup and view all the answers

What are the three factors that interact to emerge movement?

Individual, Task, Environment Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the nature of observed movement?

It results from interactions with task and environmental demands. Signup and view all the answers

How can one alter the individual factor to enhance a patient’s performance in sit to stand?

Enhance the patient’s strength and balance. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of movement analysis, what does the task factor involve?

The specific demands and requirements of an activity. Signup and view all the answers

What might be a consequence of having poor anticipatory balance control in sitting?

Difficulty in initiating movements safely. Signup and view all the answers

Which approach focuses on analyzing movements based on individual, task, and environmental interactions?

Task-Oriented Approach Signup and view all the answers

To enhance a patient's ability to move from sitting to standing, which environmental change could be beneficial?

Reducing the height of the seat. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the integration of theories from historical to current perspectives in movement analysis?

It allows for a comprehensive understanding of movement. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of physical therapists in relation to motor control?

To optimize movement and retrain patients with motor control problems Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines motor control?

The processes that regulate posture and movement Signup and view all the answers

Motor learning can be best described as what?

The process of acquiring knowledge about the world Signup and view all the answers

What system integrates sensory information to control movements?

Perception System Signup and view all the answers

What three factors are analyzed to understand movement patterns?

Individual, task, and environment constraints Signup and view all the answers

Which system utilizes both action and perception for goal-directed movement?

Cognitive System Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does motor development primarily concern itself with?

The evolution of movement across the lifespan Signup and view all the answers

How are motor control, motor development, and motor learning all interconnected?

All are mediated in part by the nervous system Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of reciprocity within a network of interneurons primarily involve?

Feedback loops and information sharing Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'emergent properties' in the context of interneuron networks?

Network properties reflecting interactions among interneurons Signup and view all the answers

How does Bernstein's theory describe the body's mechanical system?

A system subject to physical laws influencing neural commands Signup and view all the answers

What issue does the Degrees of Freedom Problem in Bernstein’s theory highlight?

Controlling a large number of movements effectively Signup and view all the answers

What role do synergies play according to the concept in movement solutions?

They couple degrees of freedom into manageable movement patterns Signup and view all the answers

What limitation is noted in Bernstein's theory regarding motor control?

Insufficient focus on environmental contributions to motor control Signup and view all the answers

What advantage does the concept of redundancy offer in motor function?

Less susceptibility to loss from injury or abnormalities Signup and view all the answers

How does control/command emerge according to system concepts?

As a consensus across network interactions Signup and view all the answers

What is the principle of self-organization in natural patterns?

Individual parts can behave in an ordered way without centralized control. Signup and view all the answers

How do non-linear properties affect organizational structures in dynamic systems?

They can result in new and distinct movement patterns. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the interaction of the motor system with its environment?

Movement patterns result from both individual and environmental interactions. Signup and view all the answers

What is a control parameter in a dynamic system?

A variable that, when scaled, can produce movement changes. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of dynamic systems, what is meant by stable and unstable states?

Stable states represent consistent movement patterns, while unstable states indicate variability. Signup and view all the answers

Which theory applies thermodynamic principles to explain transitions in movement states?

Dynamical Systems Theory Signup and view all the answers

What does ‘open systems’ refer to in the context of dynamic systems?

Systems that freely exchange energy and information with the outside. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the term ‘synergy’ in movement patterns?

A cohesive interaction leading to a new pattern of movement. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Motor Control

Motor control is the process of organizing and regulating posture and movement.
The goal is to understand how the central nervous system (CNS) coordinates muscles and joints for functional movements.
Sensory information from the environment and the body is used to select and control movement. This is known as the perception system.
Goal-directed movement within the environment requires a cognitive system.

Motor Learning

Motor learning is the process of acquiring knowledge about the world, focused on the capability to perform skilled actions.
It is a result of practice and experience, and produces relatively permanent changes in behavior.
It cannot be directly measured but inferred from behavioral changes.

Motor Development

Motor development is the emergence of posture, movement, and skill development in mobility and manipulation across the lifespan.
It is about how movement capabilities change over time and how skilled actions develop with increasing competence.

Time Scales

Motor development occurs over a longer time span than motor learning or control.
The three processes are related but have different time scales.

Components of Motor Control

Postural Control; involving factors such as vision, cortex, ventrolateral thalamus, basal ganglia, vestibular, brain stem/cerebellum, somatosensation, and spinal cord.
Movement Control; focusing on Mobility and Manipulation.

Posture and Movement

Posture and movement are opposite ends of a continuum. Posture is holding a body configuration (standing, sitting, kneeling), whereas movement is changing or transitioning between postures (discrete tasks like standing up) or between locations (e.g. walking).
Posture is described as static or sustained, with a stable BOS (base of support). Movement is dynamic, with a changing BOS.

Motor Control: Assumptions

Motor control, development, and learning are mediated by the nervous system.
Analyzing motor behavior provides an indirect study of brain function.

Theory and Practice

Contemporary practical perspective emphasizes a task-oriented approach to movement analysis, integrating historical theories with current knowledge.
Theories in motor control are not mutually exclusive.

Nature of Movement

Movement emerges from the interaction of three factors: the individual, the task, and the environment.
Observed movement results from the individual's capacity to interact with the demands of the task and the environment.

Theories of Motor Control

Includes Reflex Theory, Hierarchical Theory, Motor Programming Theory, System Theory, Dynamic Systems Theory, Ecological Theory, and the Task-oriented approach.

Clinical Implications

Clinical evaluations rely on understanding reflexes to predict function.
Treatment strategies often aim to enhance or diminish reflexive behaviors to achieve functional tasks.
Functional training supports higher-level centers in regaining motor control.

Limitations in Theories

Some theories have limitations in explaining voluntary movement, variability in response to stimuli, or the ability to generate novel movements. Theories may not consider the environment effectively.

Motor Program Theory

The motor system is not purely reactive but exhibits patterns of movement even without continued stimulus.
Central motor patterns (or motor programs) are stored and activated, more flexible than simple reflexes, for specific tasks such as writing a signature.
There are neural substrates involved in this process (called Central Pattern Generators).

Schmidt's Schema Theory

Memory structures (schemas) store rules for movement.
Invariant features remain constant across different scenarios; parameters adapt to specific situations, reflecting environmental adjustments.

Systems Theories

This approach emphasizes the interconnected nature of elements in a system, minimizing the concept of levels of control.
Features like reciprocity(interconnectedness) among interneurons, distribution of function to multiple neurons, and the emergence of properties are key concepts.

Ecological Theory (Perceptual Action Theory)

Actions are oriented according to task-specific environmental constraints.
It focuses on how the environment shapes actions.

Control parameter describes the factor that drives a system's change (e.g., changing speed on a treadmill).
Attractor states represent a more-preferred configuration reflecting movement patterns.
Affordance describes how the environment affects movement (what supports climbing).

Summary

The lecture covered different theories of motor control, learning, and development.
A contemporary model called the Task-oriented approach was presented, along with a review of historical theories.
Key terminology and clinical implications were highlighted.

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Description

Explore the principles of motor control and body stability with this quiz. Test your knowledge on reflex theories, cognitive factors, and the integration of sensory information in movement. Delve into the distinctions between manipulation and non-manipulation movements.