The Science of Everything Podcast Episode 133: Motor Control
Jan 1, 2023
Dive into the fascinating mechanics of human motor control, exploring how the spinal cord and various brain regions like the cerebellum and basal ganglia orchestrate movement. Discover the complex interplay between different areas in the brain, including the roles of inhibition and action selection in decision-making. The discussion emphasizes the intricate communication between top-down and bottom-up feedback in executing motor tasks, alongside insights into potential disorders like Huntington's disease. It's a captivating look at how our bodies move!
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Motor Control Complexity
- Motor control is more complex than simply sending muscle contraction instructions.
- Challenges include non-linearity, redundancy, feedback delays, and inherent noise.
Action Decomposition
- Actions decompose into six steps: target position, current position, spatial relationship, motor plan, motor commands, and adaptation.
- Integrating sensory information and adapting to changes are crucial.
Motor Control Hierarchy
- The motor control system is hierarchical, from the spinal cord to the cortex.
- The cortex handles higher-level planning, while the spinal cord manages specific muscle contractions.