KNES 371 Exam #1 – Study Guide, Key Concepts and Practice Questions Review
Motor Control - ✔✔snapshot. what is being controlled at that time.
study of postures and movements and the mechanisms which underlie them.
Motor Learning - ✔✔effects of practice
Motor Development - ✔✔long periods of time
Open-loop control - ✔✔does not require sensory FB to be available and/or used to control
movements. Fast movements, well learned, no FB during execution used after in next attempt.
Closed-loop control - ✔✔FB is involved in the planning and execution of movements. Slow,
precise movements, FB used during execution, sensory info used to control movement.
Theory - ✔✔A set of ideas used to explain a specific phenomenon.
Hypothesis - ✔✔A testable statement about observed events
Reflex Theory - ✔✔1. The reflex is the fundamental unit of motor control.
2. A stimulus triggers the response (movement).
3. Complex movements occur as a result of a chain of reflexes; reflex chaining models.
4. The individual is a passive recipient of externally produced sensory input.
Hierarchical Theory - ✔✔1. All aspects of movement planning and execution are the sole
responsibility of one or more cortical centers. "Cortex is the boss".
2. Sensory FB is NOT essential for the executions of movements.
, 3. Top down view of motor control.
4. Memory representations; motor programs are pre structured sets of motor commands
developed by brain.
Deafferentation Studies - ✔✔show that movements can be performed in absence of FB.
Monkey head experiment, cut AFFERENT pathways. afferent-hand to brain. efferent- brain to
hand.
Limb Blocking Studies - ✔✔show that activation pattern for agonist and antagonist muscles are
planned in advanced for short duration movements. Flexion, extension, block movement.
Response Complexity Studies - ✔✔Reaction time increases as complexity of response
increases (more time for planning movements). 1. perception 2. decision making 3. response
organization.
Dynamical System - ✔✔1. Self organization- patterns emerge as a result of the interaction
among the components of a system.
2. changes in behavior can occur in a nonlinear and abrupt fashion (awkward period)
3. Attractor states- preferred patterns of coordination are adopted to enhance stability
4. control parameter- variable that can lead to change in behavior.
5.order parameter- variables that are used to quantify the effect of a change in behavior.
Ecological Approach - ✔✔Focus on the perceptual interface between the individual and the
environment.
1. Affordances- lawful properties of the environment that permit certain action.
2. optical properties specific to an affordance can directly trigger action.
3. processes of perceiving and action- Perception/action coupling.
Flexibility - ✔✔the ability to recruit different muscles and joints to achieve the same action.
Motor Control - ✔✔snapshot. what is being controlled at that time.
study of postures and movements and the mechanisms which underlie them.
Motor Learning - ✔✔effects of practice
Motor Development - ✔✔long periods of time
Open-loop control - ✔✔does not require sensory FB to be available and/or used to control
movements. Fast movements, well learned, no FB during execution used after in next attempt.
Closed-loop control - ✔✔FB is involved in the planning and execution of movements. Slow,
precise movements, FB used during execution, sensory info used to control movement.
Theory - ✔✔A set of ideas used to explain a specific phenomenon.
Hypothesis - ✔✔A testable statement about observed events
Reflex Theory - ✔✔1. The reflex is the fundamental unit of motor control.
2. A stimulus triggers the response (movement).
3. Complex movements occur as a result of a chain of reflexes; reflex chaining models.
4. The individual is a passive recipient of externally produced sensory input.
Hierarchical Theory - ✔✔1. All aspects of movement planning and execution are the sole
responsibility of one or more cortical centers. "Cortex is the boss".
2. Sensory FB is NOT essential for the executions of movements.
, 3. Top down view of motor control.
4. Memory representations; motor programs are pre structured sets of motor commands
developed by brain.
Deafferentation Studies - ✔✔show that movements can be performed in absence of FB.
Monkey head experiment, cut AFFERENT pathways. afferent-hand to brain. efferent- brain to
hand.
Limb Blocking Studies - ✔✔show that activation pattern for agonist and antagonist muscles are
planned in advanced for short duration movements. Flexion, extension, block movement.
Response Complexity Studies - ✔✔Reaction time increases as complexity of response
increases (more time for planning movements). 1. perception 2. decision making 3. response
organization.
Dynamical System - ✔✔1. Self organization- patterns emerge as a result of the interaction
among the components of a system.
2. changes in behavior can occur in a nonlinear and abrupt fashion (awkward period)
3. Attractor states- preferred patterns of coordination are adopted to enhance stability
4. control parameter- variable that can lead to change in behavior.
5.order parameter- variables that are used to quantify the effect of a change in behavior.
Ecological Approach - ✔✔Focus on the perceptual interface between the individual and the
environment.
1. Affordances- lawful properties of the environment that permit certain action.
2. optical properties specific to an affordance can directly trigger action.
3. processes of perceiving and action- Perception/action coupling.
Flexibility - ✔✔the ability to recruit different muscles and joints to achieve the same action.
