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Lecture 19
Motor Systems
Functions movement posture & balance communication Guided by sensory systems internal representation of world & self detect changes in environment
3 Classes of Movement
Voluntary complex actions reading, writing, playing piano purposeful, goal-oriented learned improve with practice ~
3 Classes of Movement
Reflexes involuntary, rapid, stereotyped eye-blink, coughing, knee jerk graded control by eliciting stimulus Rhythmic motor patterns combines voluntary & reflexive acts chewing, walking, running initiation & termination voluntary once initiated, repetitive & reflexive ~
prime movers
antagonists
counterbalance agonists decelerate movement ~
Movement control more than contraction & relaxation Accurately time control of many muscles Make postural adjustment during movement Adjust for mechanical properties of joints & muscles
inertia, changing positions ~
Sensorimotor Integration
Perceptual development Active interaction required environmental feedback important Held & Hein (1950s) kittens passively moved depth perception deficits & related responses, blinking, looming ~
Sensorimotor Integration
visual, auditory, tactile location of objects in space Proprioceptive & vestibular position of our body Critical for planning & refining movements ~
muscle contractions
Sensorimotor Impairments
Impaired proprioception ---> motor deficits Large-fiber sensory neuropathy Aa & Ab afferents degenerate proprioceptive & tactile feedback Cant hold arm steady w/o visual input starts to drift after few seconds
psuedo-athetosis ~
Sensorimotor Impairments
Feed-forward control eyes open: ballistic movements OK eyes closed: ballistic movements highly inaccurate hand drifts at end of movement Eyes open only prior to movement errors greatly reduced lack of info about starting position ~
3 levels of control
Spinal cord (SC) Brainstem Cortex
Division of responsibility higher levels: general commands spinal cord: complex & specific Each receives sensory input relevant to levels function ~
Flexor-Extensor rule ventral: extensors dorsal: flexors Proximal-distal rule medial: proximal muscles lateral: distal muscles Parallel control systems proximal: postural distal : manipulative ~
F
P E D
2 main parallel pathways Medial to ventromedial spinal cord postural / proximal muscles Lateral to dorsolateral spinal cord manipulative / distal muscles ~
Corticospinal Tract
Direct ---> spinal neurons Indirect control via cortico-reticulospinal tact cortico-rubrospinal tract ~
Corticospinal Tract
More parallel pathways Lateral corticospinal tract contralateral projections decussate at medullary pyramid distal muscles Ventral corticospinal tract ipsilateral projection proximal muscles ~
Effects of Lesions
Motor cortex & projections locus of damage determines deficit Cerebral Vascular Accidents (CVA)
most common cause ~
release phenomena
loss of normal inhibitory influences e.g., lesion of basal ganglia ---> involuntary movements ~
Normal: flexion toe curl down Lesion: Extension toes curl up and fan ~
Muscle Weakness
Lesions produce different syndromes Lower motor neuron syndrome
Muscle Weakness
imbalance of excitatory/inhibitory interneurons symptoms spasticity occurs tonicity & deep tendon reflexes atrophy is rare no fasciculations ~
strength returns but movement slow M1 ---> lateral brainstem intact cortico-rubrospinal & corticoreticulospinal tracts assume control humans: fewer fibers ---> less recovery ~