BPED 213

• Motor neuron


  Carries the response command to the muscles or glands
• Sensory-Motor Loop


  The reflex arc forms a closed loop from the sensory receptors to the effectors, allowing for rapid and direct responses to stimuli
• Automatic Responses

  Movements are seen as the result of specific reflex actions that are hardwired into the nervous system. These reflexes do not require conscious thought or decision-making
• Reflex theory

  An early and basic explanation of how movements are controlled and coordinated in the body
• Reflex arc theory

  A theory that suggests the nervous system operates through a series of reflexes, which are rapid, automatic, and involuntary responses to stimuli
• Components of the reflex arc

  • Sensory receptor
  • Sensory neuron
  • Interneuron
  • Motor neuron
  • Effector organ
• Sensory receptor


  Detects a stimulus
• Interneuron


  Processes the information
• Sensory neuron


  Transmits the information to the spinal cord
• Effector organ


  Carries out the response
• DST offers an alternative perspective to traditional theories that focus on fixed motor programs or reflex arcs
• DST emphasizes the idea of self-organization
• More contemporary theories, such as the dynamical systems theory and hierarchical theories, have been developed to address the complexities of motor control beyond simple reflex arcs
• Limited in Scope Reflex theory is considered limited in explaining more complex and voluntary movements
• Dynamical Systems Theory (DST) is a theoretical framework used in the study of motor control and coordination
• DST views movement as an emergent behavior resulting from the interactions of multiple components within a dynamic system
• Self-Organization


  Complex and coordinated movements arise naturally from the interactions among the components of the system without the need for explicit central control
• Reflex Theory

  • Also known as Arc Theory
  • Early and basic
  • How movement are controlled
• Sensory neuron that transmit and carry the information into the Spinal cord.
• Key points of Reflex theory

  • Automatic Responses
  • Sensory-Motor Loop
  • Limited in scope
• Dynamical Systems Theories

  Self Organization

  • Complex and Coordinated movement
  • System Organizes itself without the need for explicit control
• Attractor States

  Movements are attracted to certain stable states within the system.
• Control Parameters

  • Influence the behavior of the systems.
  • Changes in movement patterns
• Degrees of freedom

  • Referring to the number of independent elements or components in a system
  • Allowing for flexibility and adaptability in movements
• Phase transition

  Switching from the stable state to another
• Non Linear Dynamics

  • How small changes in one part of the system in over all behavior
  • Including walking reaching and grasping
• Hierarchical Theories

  Involves multiple levels of processing ranging from high level cognitive processes to lower level execution
• Hierarchy of control level

  Higher level of control overseeing and influencing lower levels
• 3 main levels of hierarchy of control level

  • Cognitive
  • Associative
  • Autonomous
• Cognitive level

  • Include goal setting strategy planning and decision-making
  • Goals and plans
• Associative level

  • Transforming the cognitive plans into motor programs
  • Coordinating different muscles groups and refining movement patterns based on sensory
• Autonomous level

  
• Feedback mechanism

  
• Generalized motor program

  
• Open loop and closed loop control

  
• Motor program theory

  
• Motor programs

  
• Hierarchy of motor programs