Chapter 1- Evolution of a Field of Study Flashcards
T/F: motor control + motor learning are in the same fields
False- motor control + learning are SEPARATE fields
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motor control
the study of the control of movements in humans + animals
what 2 questions does motor control answer
-how are various movements controlled by the organization of the CNS + coordinating individual muscles + joints?
-how does sensory information from the environment, body, or both control movement?
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motor learning
the study of how movements are learned
what question does motor learning answer
how are movements produced differently as a result of practice or experience?
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3 fields of study that help us understand movement
-biomechanics
-neurophysiology
-psychology
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biomechanics
-mechanical + physical bases on biological systems
-joints, levers, associated mechanical characteristics
biomechanics example- cup stacking
-fingers have joints
-the biomechanics of his fingers opening/closing
-the grip aperture expanding/closing
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neurophysiology
the branch emphasizing neural processes associated with (+ causes of) movements with little reference to gross movements
-functioning of brain + spinal cord -> muscles
-control of contractions of muscles that move limbs
neurophysiology example- cup stacking
using eyes to get visual feedback to modify how movements were progressing one after the other
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psychology
the branch emphasizing high-level skills with little reference to neurological mechanisms involved
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what are the 2 origins of motor control + learning
-neurophysiology
-psychology
movement
act of changing physical location or position; going from 1 location to another
movement is critical to ____
evolutionary development
-if we were not able to move + becoming better at moving, we would just stay babies + have no way to sustain ourselves in life
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2 forms of movement
-genetically defined movement
-learned movement
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genetically defined movement
-limbs
-centipede coordination
-dog scratches
-blinking to puffs of air
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learned movement
requires skills—
controlling a car, typing, triple twist somersault dive
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3 levels of analysis to study movement
-individual level
-group level
-organizational level
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individual level (of movement)
nature of biochemical interactions within cells during individual movements, or individual cell/organs/bodily systems (regarding movement control)
example of individual level of movement
neurons send electrical impulses to communicate between nervous system + muscular system to coordinate movement
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group level (of movement)
movements of animals/humans, specifying analysis to speed, accuracy, choices (decision making) + patterns
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organizational level (of movement)
roles of movement in the environment, such as during certain occupations/sports, or in groups/teams
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Friedrich BESSEL
-German astronomer
-empirical investigations of motor skills
-tried to understnad the difference among colleagues in recording transit times of movement of stars
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Robert WOODWORTH
-American psychologist
-earliest systematic approaches to understanding motor skills
-fundamental principles of rapid arm + hand movements -> visual-motor performance principles
-movement memory, speed-accuracy trade-off, + phase transition in bimanual movements
