Ch 5 Motor Learning Theories
Chapter 5 – Motor Control Theories
Concept: theories about how we control coordinated movement differ in terms of the roles of central and environmental features of a control system
Theory and Professional Practice * What is a theory? * Accurately describes a large class of observations * Make definite predictions about results of future observations * Theories of motor learning and control focus on: * Explaining human movement behavior * Providing explanations about why people perform skills as they do * Does a theory have relevance to professional practice? * Provides the “why” basis for what practitioners do (see fig 5.1)
Motor Control Theory * Describes and explains how the nervous system produces coordinated movement of motor skill in a variety of environments * Two important terms: * Coordination * Patterning of body and limb motions relative to the patterning of environmental objects and events * Two parts to consider: * Movement pattern of a skill in relationship at a specific point in time * Context of the environment of the head, body, and/or limb movements so the actions can be accomplished * The degrees of freedom problem * Degrees of freedom (df) = number of independent elements in a system and the ways each element can act * E.g. the control of a helicopter’s flight (described in the textbook) * Degree of freedom problem for the control of movement: * How does the nervous system control the many df of muscles, limbs, and joints to enable a person to perform an action as intended?
Two General Types of Control Systems * Open- and Closed-Loop Control Systems * See fig 5.3 * Incorporated into all theories of motor control * Models of basic descriptions to show different ways the CNS and PNS initiate and control action * Each has a central control center (executive)
Concept: theories about how we control coordinated movement differ in terms of the roles of central and environmental features of a control system
Theory and Professional Practice * What is a theory? * Accurately describes a large class of observations * Make definite predictions about results of future observations * Theories of motor learning and control focus on: * Explaining human movement behavior * Providing explanations about why people perform skills as they do * Does a theory have relevance to professional practice? * Provides the “why” basis for what practitioners do (see fig 5.1)
Motor Control Theory * Describes and explains how the nervous system produces coordinated movement of motor skill in a variety of environments * Two important terms: * Coordination * Patterning of body and limb motions relative to the patterning of environmental objects and events * Two parts to consider: * Movement pattern of a skill in relationship at a specific point in time * Context of the environment of the head, body, and/or limb movements so the actions can be accomplished * The degrees of freedom problem * Degrees of freedom (df) = number of independent elements in a system and the ways each element can act * E.g. the control of a helicopter’s flight (described in the textbook) * Degree of freedom problem for the control of movement: * How does the nervous system control the many df of muscles, limbs, and joints to enable a person to perform an action as intended?
Two General Types of Control Systems * Open- and Closed-Loop Control Systems * See fig 5.3 * Incorporated into all theories of motor control * Models of basic descriptions to show different ways the CNS and PNS initiate and control action * Each has a central control center (executive)