History of Theories of Motor Control

• What are theories of motor control?

  • A group of abstract ideas about the control of movement
  • Built up from evidence
  • Change over time/research
  • A good theory must “accurately describe a large class of observations…and make definite predictions about the results of future observations”
• Summary:

  • Sensation is important
  • Neural components are important – different levels of interactive control
  • Patterns of movement exist
  • Neural
  • Muscular
  • Particular components trigger changes in patterns e.g. speed
  • Task and environment are important as are how we perceive them