Motor control

Motor control is the nervous system’s planning, initiation, and regulation of movement. It coordinates neural commands with sensory feedback to produce and adjust actions.

Motor cortex: A set of frontal-lobe regions involved in planning and executing voluntary movement. Its descending signals help turn selected actions into commands for muscles.
Motor neuron: A neuron that transmits signals to muscle fibers or, in some cases, glands. Motor neurons provide the final neural link between movement commands and muscle contraction.
Motor learning: A relatively lasting change in movement capability produced by practice or experience. Practice reshapes control strategies and improves the reliability of skilled actions.
Reflex theory: A theory that explains complex behavior as combinations of stimulus-triggered reflexes. It contrasts with accounts emphasizing internally planned actions and flexible goals.
Corticospinal tract: A major pathway carrying movement-related signals from the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord. It carries cortical commands toward spinal circuits and motor neurons.
Motor unit: A motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it activates. Recruiting and adjusting motor units lets the nervous system scale muscle force.
Stroke rehabilitation: Therapies that seek to restore function and independence after a stroke. Rehabilitation uses practice and adaptation to recover movement after neural injury.
Central pattern generator: A neural circuit capable of producing rhythmic patterns without rhythmic sensory input. It shows how spinal circuits can organize repeated movements without continuous commands.
Basal ganglia: A group of interconnected brain nuclei involved in action selection, movement, and learning. Their circuits help select actions and regulate movement initiation.
Neuromuscular junction: A synapse where a motor neuron communicates with a skeletal muscle fiber. This junction converts neural output into signals that trigger muscle contraction.

Linked from 33 pages