Theories of Motor Control
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Questions and Answers

What is the main clinical implication of the Motor Programming Theory?

In patients with higher levels of motor programming affected, this theory helps relearn the correct rule for action.

What is the key concept of the Systems Theory in motor control?

Higher levels activate lower levels while lower levels activate synergies (e.g. groups of muscles that are constrained to act together as a unit).

What is the clinical implication of the Systems Theory in motor control?

This theory helps in understanding the physical and dynamic properties of the human body, which can be used to help patients regain motor control.

What is the purpose of synergies according to the Systems Theory?

<p>The purpose of synergies is to stabilize a performance, such as stabilizing hand position during reaching or grasp force during grasping.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of the Motor Programming Theory?

<p>The Motor Programming Theory does not take into account musculoskeletal system and environmental variables.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of the Systems Theory?

<p>The Systems Theory considers the nervous system to be fairly unimportant.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a theory of motor control?

<p>A theory of motor control is a group of ideas about the control of movement. It provides a framework for interpreting behavior, a guide for clinical action, and new ideas or working hypotheses for examination and intervention.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the reflex theory of motor control based on?

<p>The reflex theory of motor control is based on the idea that movement is the result of a stimulus-response sequence of events or reflexes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the reflex theory, what role does sensation play in movement?

<p>According to the reflex theory, sensation assumes a primary role in initiating and producing movement.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Charles Sherrington believe about the relationship between reflexes and complex behavior?

<p>Charles Sherrington believed that reflexes were the building blocks of complex behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the clinical implication of the reflex theory?

<p>The clinical implication of the reflex theory is that it is designed to test reflexes, allowing physical therapists to predict function.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the four theories of motor control mentioned in the text?

<p>The four theories of motor control mentioned are the reflex theory, hierarchical theory, motor programming theory, and dynamic action theory.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the limitation of the Reflex Theory in explaining human movement?

<p>The Reflex Theory is unable to explain spontaneous and voluntary movements (e.g. typing) and movements that occur without a sensory stimulus.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the clinical implication of the Hierarchical Theory of motor control?

<p>The Hierarchical Theory can be used to describe disordered movement following a motor cortex lesion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the limitation of the Hierarchical Theory in explaining motor control?

<p>The Hierarchical Theory is unable to explain the dominance of reflex behavior in certain situations (e.g. stepping on a pin).</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what situation is the Motor Programming Theory useful for explaining movement patterns?

<p>The Motor Programming Theory is useful in explaining certain stereotyped patterns of movement.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of a stereotyped movement pattern that can be explained by the Motor Programming Theory.

<p>The flight of a grasshopper is an example of a stereotyped movement pattern that can be explained by the Motor Programming Theory.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What evidence supports the Motor Programming Theory in explaining the grasshopper's flight?

<p>Even when the sensory nerves of the grasshopper were cut, the nervous system could still generate the wing beat pattern, albeit at a slower pace, without sensory input.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Theories of Motor Control

  • A theory of motor control is a group of ideas about the control of movement.
  • A theory is a set of interconnected statements that describe unobservable structures or processes and relate them to each other and to observable events.

Function of a Theory

  • Provides a framework for interpreting behavior.
  • Guides clinical action.
  • Generates new ideas, dynamic and evolving, and serves as a working hypothesis for examination and intervention.

Types of Motor Control Theories

  • Reflex Theory
  • Hierarchical Theory
  • Motor Programming Theory
  • Systems Theory
  • Dynamic Action Theory
  • Ecological Theory

Reflex Theory

  • Established by Charles Sherrington, a neurophysiologist.
  • Views movement as a result of stimulus-response sequence events or reflex-based.
  • Sensation assumes a primary role in initiating and producing movement.
  • Believes that reflexes are the building blocks of complex behavior.

Clinical Implications of Reflex Theory

  • Designed to test reflexes, allowing physical therapists to predict function.
  • Patient's movement behavior would be interpreted in terms of the presence or absence of controlling reflexes.
  • Retraining motor control for functional skills would focus on facilitation/inhibition of various reflexes during motor tasks.

Limitations of Reflex Theory

  • Unable to explain spontaneous and voluntary movements (e.g., typing).
  • Unable to explain movements that occur without a sensory stimulus.

Hierarchical Theory

  • Movement is controlled by a system consisting of three levels with a rigid top-down organization.
  • Higher centers control lower centers.

Clinical Implications of Hierarchical Theory

  • Describes disordered movement following a motor cortex lesion.

Limitations of Hierarchical Theory

  • Unable to explain the dominance of reflex behavior in certain situations (e.g., stepping on a pin).

Motor Programming Theory

  • Useful in explaining certain stereotyped patterns of movement.
  • Even when sensory nerves are cut, the nervous system can generate the output with no sensory input.

Clinical Implications of Motor Programming Theory

  • In patients with higher levels of motor programming affected, this theory helps relearn correct rules for action.
  • Intervention should focus on retraining movements to a functional task, not only re-educating specific muscles in isolation.

Limitations of Motor Programming Theory

  • Does not take into account musculoskeletal system and environmental variables.

Systems Theory

  • Higher levels activate lower levels while lower levels activate synergies (e.g., groups of muscles that are constrained to act together as a unit).
  • Synergy: a task-specific covariation of elemental variables with the purpose to stabilize a performance.

Clinical Implications of Systems Theory

  • Helps in understanding the physical and dynamic properties of the human body.
  • We can make use of these properties in helping patients to regain motor control.

Limitations of Systems Theory

  • Nervous system is fairly unimportant.

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Explore the concepts and ideas surrounding the control of movement through various theories of motor control. Understand how these theories provide frameworks for interpreting behavior, guides for clinical action, and introduce new ideas in the field.

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