Adaptive motor control

Definition

Adaptive motor control refers to the ability of the nervous system to modify motor actions based on experience and feedback from the environment. This process is essential for learning new motor skills and improving performance over time, as it allows for adjustments in response to varying conditions and challenges. The mechanism involves both sensory input and neural processing, leading to refined movements that enhance efficiency and accuracy.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Adaptive motor control relies heavily on sensory feedback, which helps inform the brain about the success or failure of a movement, allowing for real-time adjustments.
2. The process involves both feedforward mechanisms, where predictions are made about the outcome of movements, and feedback mechanisms that correct errors.
3. Practice enhances adaptive motor control by reinforcing successful movements and making them more automatic over time.
4. Different types of motor tasks (e.g., open vs. closed loop tasks) can engage different strategies of adaptive motor control.
5. Injuries or changes in the body can necessitate a re-learning process in adaptive motor control, showcasing the brain's capacity for neuroplasticity.

Review Questions

• How does adaptive motor control interact with sensory feedback to improve movement performance?
  • Adaptive motor control interacts with sensory feedback by using information from the senses to assess whether a movement was successful or if adjustments are needed. This feedback loop helps refine movements by enabling the nervous system to learn from past actions and make real-time corrections. For instance, when practicing a new skill like throwing a ball, sensory feedback about the throw's accuracy guides further attempts, allowing for continual improvement.
• Discuss how practice influences the effectiveness of adaptive motor control in skill acquisition.
  • Practice significantly enhances adaptive motor control by reinforcing neural pathways associated with successful movement patterns. Through repeated attempts, individuals become more proficient at predicting outcomes and making necessary adjustments based on sensory feedback. This not only leads to improved performance but also makes these movements more automatic, allowing individuals to execute complex tasks with greater ease and precision over time.
• Evaluate the role of neuroplasticity in supporting adaptive motor control after an injury.
  • Neuroplasticity plays a crucial role in supporting adaptive motor control after an injury by enabling the nervous system to reorganize and adapt. Following an injury, such as a stroke, individuals often need to relearn movements that were previously automatic. Neuroplasticity allows for the formation of new neural connections that compensate for damaged areas, facilitating recovery. As individuals engage in rehabilitation practices, adaptive motor control mechanisms work alongside neuroplasticity to help regain lost skills and adapt to any changes in physical capabilities.

Related terms

Motor Learning: The process of acquiring and refining motor skills through practice and experience, which involves changes in the nervous system that improve movement quality.

Sensory Feedback: Information received from the senses that informs the brain about the outcome of movements, enabling adjustments to be made for future actions.

Neuroplasticity:

The ability of the nervous system to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections in response to learning or injury, which is crucial for adaptive motor control.