Motor Learning Unit 4 - CNS Mechanisms
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Questions and Answers

What physiological adaptation to exercise involves the formation of new neurons?

  • Synaptic pruning
  • Neurogenesis (correct)
  • Neuroplasticity
  • Capillarization

    • Which factor is a cause of central fatigue, impeding motor output from the brain?

  • Increased muscle oxygen levels
  • Enhanced neurotransmitter regulation
  • Heightened central drive
  • Glycogen depletion (correct)

    • Which of the following psychological effects is associated with regular exercise?

  • Decreased cognitive function
  • Increased anxiety
  • Improved self-efficacy (correct)
  • Increased stress levels

    • What is the role of the central activation ratio (CAR) in measuring central fatigue?

    <p>It compares maximum voluntary contraction to stimulated contraction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a brain-related change associated with training?

    <p>Synaptic pruning</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the motor cortex?

    <p>To formulate and execute movement plans</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which part of the brain is primarily responsible for coordinating smooth and precise movements?

    <p>Cerebellum</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the thalamus in motor control?

    <p>To relay information between the motor cortex and other brain areas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about upper and lower motor neurons is true?

    <p>Upper motor neurons communicate with lower motor neurons in the spinal cord</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the brainstem contribute to motor control?

    <p>By acting as a relay for fibers between the spinal cord and cerebrum</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which area of the brain is involved in the integration of sensory feedback and movement planning?

    <p>Cerebellum</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of decussation in the motor system?

    <p>It allows motor control of both sides of the body from one hemisphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two main types of matter found in the spinal cord?

    <p>White matter and Gray matter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of sensory information is carried by the dorsal root of the spinal cord?

    <p>Sensory information</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the process called sensorimotor integration primarily involve?

    <p>Merging sensory inputs with motor neurons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is neuroplasticity in the context of the CNS?

    <p>Adaptation of structure and function in response to practice</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What typically happens to brain activity after extensive motor skill practice?

    <p>Less brain area is active, indicating improved efficiency</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term describes the use of previously unused resources to maximize movement capability following practice?

    <p>Functional plasticity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does training specifically refer to in the context of CNS adaptations?

    <p>Physiological adaptation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes an effect of practice on regional brain activity?

    <p>Specific regions may decrease while others increase in activity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common outcome in neural connections resulting from practice?

    <p>Increased number of neural connections</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can the efficiency of the CNS be reflected in brain activity after learning?

    <p>By significantly reducing brain activity during task performance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the spinal cord in linking the CNS with the PNS?

    <p>The spinal cord transmits sensory information from the PNS to the CNS and motor commands from the CNS to the PNS.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does practice influence neuroplasticity in the spinal cord?

    <p>Practice leads to the formation of new synapses and changes in spinal cord structure and function.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to brain activity during the performance of a task after extensive practice?

    <p>Brain activity generally decreases in certain areas, indicating greater efficiency and automaticity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what way does sensorimotor integration occur in the spinal cord?

    <p>Sensorimotor integration involves the convergence of multiple sensory inputs with motor neurons in the spinal cord.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What changes in brain activity can occur after learning new skills, particularly in previously unused resources?

    <p>Learning can lead to increased activity in new brain areas, reflecting the use of interconnectivity to enhance movement capabilities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the primary functions of the cerebellum in motor control?

    <p>The cerebellum is responsible for planning and organizing smooth, coordinated movements, as well as fine-tuning those movements based on sensory feedback.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do the motor cortex and somatosensory cortex work together in movement planning?

    <p>The motor cortex generates the movement plan, while the somatosensory cortex provides sensory feedback about body position and touch to refine that plan.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Describe the role of the basal ganglia in motor control.

    <p>The basal ganglia process information relevant to motor control and are involved in regulating posture and equilibrium.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What impact does central fatigue have on force production during physical activity?

    <p>Central fatigue can lead to a decreased ability to produce force, affecting overall physical performance and motor output.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Explain how the practice of motor skills influences the neural pathways in the CNS.

    <p>Practicing motor skills enhances neural pathways, leading to improved efficiency and potentially the strengthening or formation of synaptic connections.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The CNS is responsible for planning and initiating _____ actions.

    <p>motor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The _____ is involved in comparing movement plans to incoming sensory information.

    <p>cerebellum</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The _____ lobe houses areas responsible for conscious thought and executive functions.

    <p>frontal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The _____ connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

    <p>corpus callosum</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Most motor neuron tracts _____, meaning that one side of the brain corresponds to the opposite side of the body.

    <p>decussate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The spinal cord links the CNS with the ______.

    <p>PNS</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The dorsal root of the spinal cord carries ______ information.

    <p>sensory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Motor commands originate from the ______ root of the spinal cord.

    <p>ventral</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Sensorimotor integration involves multiple sensory inputs meeting motor ______.

    <p>neurons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Neuroplasticity refers to changes in the ______ and spinal cord due to practice and training.

    <p>brain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    After extensive practice of a motor skill, generally less brain area is ______ during the task.

    <p>active</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Training leads to physiological ______ in the CNS.

    <p>adaptation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Changes in brain activity after learning often involve increased interconnectivity between ______ areas.

    <p>brain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Practice influences the formation of new ______ in the CNS.

    <p>synapses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Following multiple practice trials, regions of the brain may show decreased activity, reflecting increased ______.

    <p>efficiency</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The _____ cortex is responsible for planning and executing voluntary movements.

    <p>motor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The _____ is crucial for smooth and coordinated movements by fine-tuning the motor plan with sensory information.

    <p>cerebellum</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The left and right hemispheres of the brain are connected by the _____ callosum.

    <p>corpus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Sensory information from the body is processed in the _____ cortex, which also maps to specific body areas.

    <p>somatosensory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Neurons in the pyramidal tract primarily connect the _____ cortex to the spinal cord.

    <p>motor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Sensory information is relayed through the _____ root of the spinal cord.

    <p>dorsal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Movement commands are transmitted via the _____ root of the spinal cord.

    <p>ventral</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Sensorimotor integration involves multiple _____ inputs meeting with motor neurons.

    <p>sensory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Neuroplasticity refers to changes in the brain and _____ due to practice and training.

    <p>spinal cord</p> Signup and view all the answers

    After extensive practice, generally less brain area is _____ during the performance of a task.

    <p>active</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In some cases, more brain areas are active after learning, particularly in areas related to _____ between regions.

    <p>interconnectivity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Motor Learning - PHYL 4518

    • Course information: Mount Royal University, PHY 4518 Motor Learning, Fall 2024, Week 6, Zoe Chan, PhD.
    • Email: [email protected]

    Unit 4: Central Neural Mechanisms

    • Learning Objectives:
      • Describe motor control functions in CNS components and their integration for motor planning.
      • Explain how physical training and practice affect the CNS.
      • Identify the impacts of central fatigue on force production.

    CNS and Motor Control

    • The CNS plans and initiates motor actions.
    • Planning uses learned behaviors and sensory feedback.
    • Motor actions are initiated by sending a plan down the spinal cord from the CNS.
    • Motor plans are encoded into precise electrical signals in motor neurons.
    • Many motor neurons are involved to carry out effective movement.
    • Changes to the signal occur during its descent from the CNS to the PNS.

    Areas of the Brain

    • The brain is divided into cerebrum, cerebellum, diencephalon, and brainstem.
    • Specific brain areas control functions such as midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata

    The Cerebrum

    • Composed of left and right hemispheres.
    • Contains a deep area below the cortex.
    • Composed of a cerebral cortex (outer/superficial area).
    • Cerebral cortex: the seat of conscious mind, stores learned experiences, and receives sensory input.

    The Cerebrum - Lobes

    • The cerebral cortex is divided into lobes: frontal (anterior), parietal (top), occipital (dorsal), and temporal (lateral sides).

    The Cerebrum - Brodmann Areas

    • The cerebral cortex is structurally and functionally divided into Brodmann areas.
    • Key Brodmann areas for motor control include motor cortex, somatosensory cortex, auditory cortex, and visual cortex.
    • Areas regulating thought and executive function are in the frontal lobe

    Motor and Somatosensory Cortex

    • The motor and somatosensory cortexes map to body areas (homunculus).
    • Brain tissue is heavily devoted to the hands and face for motor and sensory functions.

    Motor Cortex

    • The motor cortex connects with the spinal cord via tracts.
    • The pyramidal tract is a key tract for motor control; others are extrapyramidal tracts.
    • Most tracts decussate, meaning one side of the brain controls the opposite side of the body.

    Motor Cortex: Upper and Lower Motor Neurons

    • Upper motor neurons directly connect with lower motor neurons in the spinal cord.
    • Lower motor neurons connect to muscles (to initiate muscular movements)

    Somatosensory Cortex

    • Receives sensory information from the body (e.g., proprioception, touch).
    • Connects with the spinal cord via tracts.
    • Sensory tracts are more complex than motor tracts.

    Cerebrum: Deep Structures

    • Includes the basal ganglia for processing information, posture, and equilibrium.
    • Corpus callosum links the left and right hemispheres.

    Measuring the Brain

    • Structural measurement techniques: MRI, CT.
    • Functional measurement techniques: fMRI, EEG, PET

    Diencephalon: Thalamus

    • Processes information flowing between the brain stem and cerebrum.
    • Relays sensory information among motor cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum.
    • Regulates aspects of the autonomic nervous system

    Cerebellum

    • Involved in planning and organizing smooth, coordinated movements.
    • Compares movement plans to sensory information.
    • Fine-tunes movement for timing and precision.
    • Important for functions like walking and speaking.

    Brain Stem

    • Located at the junction between the brain and spinal cord.
    • Includes the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.
    • Acts as a passageway and switchboard for fibers between the spinal cord and cerebrum.
    • Processes, filters, and routes signals.

    Brain Stem - Reticular Formation

    • Houses a neural network that controls programmed, automatic movement behaviors.
    • Responsible for locomotion, posture, muscle tone, breathing, and heart rate regulation.

    Spinal Cord

    • Connects the CNS to the PNS.
    • White matter consists of myelinated axons.
    • Gray matter includes cell bodies of PNS neurons and interneurons.
    • Sensory information enters via the dorsal root; motor commands exit via the ventral root.
    • Sensory inputs and motor neurons meet in the spinal cord, integrating them in a sensorimotor process.

    CNS Adaptations to Practice and Training

    • Practice impacts CNS structure and function through neuroplasticity.
    • This can involve new synapses, altered somatotopic maps, and increased efficiency of movements (automaticity).
    • Training results in physiological adaptations to exercise and increased neural activity in related brain areas, which can alter neural synapses and pathways.

    CNS Adaptations to Practice

    • Practice generally results in less brain area activity during movements, indicating automaticity and efficiency.
    • More brain areas may become active after learning, especially interconnectivity increases, indicating more usage of previously unused resources.

    CNS Adaptations to Practice: Physiological Changes

    • Changes in neuronal structure in the brain and spinal cord, following practices.
    • More synaptic connections and dendritic sprouting increase signal connections and processes.
    • Receptor sites, neurotransmitter increases in efficiency, and faster firing of the neurons
    • Increased neuron size (bigger, denser, and more excitable) in motor cortex areas related to practiced movements.

    CNS Adaptations to Training: Psychological Effects

    • Exercise is associated with improved mood, reduced anxiety, and increased self-efficacy.
    • Training can improve cognitive function, memory, and learning, particularly in older adults.

    CNS Adaptations to Training: Physiological Effects

    • Exercise leads to brain-related changes like cell proliferation, increased blood flow, alterations in brain chemistry (neurotransmitters, receptors, synapses, and capillarization), and an overall slower loss of brain tissue.

    Altered CNS Functioning: Central Fatigue

    • Fatigue is the inability to produce the required or expected force or work.
    • Muscle fatigue occurs due to the failing physiological and biochemical mechanisms involved in muscle contractions.
    • Central fatigue involves the reduction in motor output from the brain and spinal cord.

    Measuring Central Fatigue

    • Maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) measures force production to assess for central fatigue.
    • Central activation ratio (CAR) is calculated to evaluate fatigue levels from MVC data.

    Causes of Central Fatigue

    • Central fatigue can result from glycogen depletion, a reduction in neurotransmitter regulation, and decreased oxygen levels at the CNS.
    • Non-motor areas in the brain can begin processing signals differently, leading to altered sensations and poorer motor performance during fatigue.

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    PHYL 4518 Motor Learning - Mount Royal University PDF

    Description

    This quiz covers the central neural mechanisms involved in motor learning as outlined in PHYL 4518. You will explore how the CNS integrates components for motor planning, the effects of training on CNS performance, and the implications of central fatigue on force production. Test your understanding of these concepts essential for effective motor control.

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