Control of Movement

Lecture 19

Motor Systems
Functions movement posture & balance communication Guided by sensory systems internal representation of world & self detect changes in environment

external & internal ~

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 ~

Movement & Muscles

Movement occurs at joints Contraction & relaxation of of opposing muscles agonists

prime movers

antagonists
counterbalance agonists decelerate movement ~

Movement & Muscles

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

Sensory inputs guide movement

visual, auditory, tactile location of objects in space Proprioceptive & vestibular position of our body Critical for planning & refining movements ~

Error Correction: Feedback

During or after movement Compare actual position with intended position if different ----> make correction

muscle contractions

Limited to slow movements ~

Error Correction: Feed-forward

Sensory events control movements in advance ballistic movements Prediction internal model of events e.g. catching ball representation of ball trajectory properties of musculoskeletal system Reevaluation after response completed ~

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 ~

Organization of Motor Control

Hierarchical & Parallel Parallel pathways active simultaneously e.g. moving arm 1. muscles producing movement 2. postural adjustments during movement Recovery of function after lesion overlapping functions ~

Hierarchical Control of Movement

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 ~

Hierarchical Control: Spinal Cord

Automatic & stereotyped responses reflexes rhythmic motor patterns Can function without brain Spinal interneurons same circuits as voluntary movement Pathways converge on a motor neurons final common path ~

Hierarchical Control: Spinal Cord

Motor neurons in ventral horn Topographical organization of motor nuclei

a.k.a. motor neuron pools

longitudinal columns across 1-4 spinal segments according to 2 rules ~

Topographical organization of motor nuclei

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

Hierarchical Control: Brain Stem

Modulates neurons in spinal cord

interneuerons & motor neurons

2 main parallel pathways Medial to ventromedial spinal cord postural / proximal muscles Lateral to dorsolateral spinal cord manipulative / distal muscles ~

Hierarchical Control: Cortex

2 tracts Corticobulbar --->cranial nerves facial muscles Corticospinal ---> spinal nerves Origin of axons 1/3 from primary motor cortex (M1) 1/3 from premotor areas 1/3 from somatosensory cortex ~

Corticospinal Tract

Direct control & Indirect control

Parallel pathways

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 ~

2 classes of abnormal function

Negative signs Loss of function e.g., weakness, loss of strength Positive signs stereotyped, abnormal responses

release phenomena

loss of normal inhibitory influences e.g., lesion of basal ganglia ---> involuntary movements ~

Positive Signs: Babinski Sign

Lesion of corticospinal tract Plantar reflex Stroke firmly stroke sole of foot

heel ---> toe

Normal: flexion toe curl down Lesion: Extension toes curl up and fan ~

Muscle Weakness
Lesions produce different syndromes Lower motor neuron syndrome

spinal motor neurons

lesion: soma or axon symptoms weakness fasciculations atrophy ~

Muscle Weakness

Upper motor neuron syndrome

descending motor pathways

imbalance of excitatory/inhibitory interneurons symptoms spasticity occurs tonicity & deep tendon reflexes atrophy is rare no fasciculations ~

Parallel Control & Recovery

Fractionation of movement independent control of single muscles via direct input from corticospinal tract Lesion in medullary pyramids can no longer grasp objects locomotion, posture unaffected Parallel pathways assume control ~

Parallel Control & Recovery

Monkeys: If premotor outflow spared

indirect control via brainstem

strength returns but movement slow M1 ---> lateral brainstem intact cortico-rubrospinal & corticoreticulospinal tracts assume control humans: fewer fibers ---> less recovery ~