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Neuromotor control basics

Terms in this set (16)

- Interacting with and responding to the environment
- Producing movement for physical acts of speech production and swallowing
- And regulating "background" motor movements
Neuromotor control of movement is essential for
background motor movements
movements that the nervous system is responsible for that we don't think about. Movements primarily regulated by brainstem (out of sight, out of mind)

Ex: Balance
1. Lower motor neurons (LMN)
2. Upper motor neurons (UMN)
3. Basal ganglia (BG)
4. Cerebellum
Neuromotor control includes 4 interactive systems (LCN)
lower motor neurons
consists of Spinal motor neurons and CN (cranial) motor neurons
anterior horn of spinal cord and the brainstem
where are LMN cell bodies located?
anterior horn of spinal cord

("think" spinal motor neurons - "neck down")
LMN cell bodies location

- LMN of lateral motor nuclei target distal muscles (i.e., muscles of the forearms and lower half of legs)
- LMN of medial motor nuclei target proximal muscles (i.e., muscles related to the shoulder joints, hip joints, and torso)
brainstem

("think" CN motor neurons - "neck-up")
LMN cell bodies location where CN motor neurons target muscles of head and neck (particularly larynx)
major roles of LMN
- innervate skeletal muscles of head and body
- "Final common pathway" bc are the final group of neurons that will interact directly with skeletal muscles (voluntary movement)
- receive continual sensory input, especially proprioception from DCML and CN V, IX, X, to facilitate muscle movement-in-the-moment

EX: voluntary movements (talking and gesturing) involve continual proprioceptive changes in joints and muscle length/tension that occur in-the-moment
brainstem and cerebral cortex
where are UMN cell bodies located?
major roles of UMN
Brainstem neuron's roles: "automatic" or "background" motor regulation associated with head orientation, balance, posture, and locomotion (e.g., walking)

Cerebral cortex neuron's roles: Planning, selecting, and initiating complex voluntary movements
Local circuit neurons (LCN)
interneurons found throughout gray matter of spinal cord...and throughout reticular formation of brainstem
most brainstem and cortical UMN synapse with LCN ---> then LCN synapse with LMN

(a fewer # of brainstem and cortical UMN synapse with LMN directly)
how do UMN, LMN, and LCN synapse?
major roles of LCN
Connections with LCN allow UMN to coordinate multiple motor movements at once, such as those associated with:
1. Walking
2. Talking
3. Swallowing

LCN called, "central pattern generators"
basal ganglia (BG) and cerebellum
- indirect motor systems (has no direct access to cerebral cortex UMN)

~ Instead regulates those UMN via thalamus only, with no interaction with LMN or LCN
- described as an "indirect motor system" (doesn't control muscle movement directly, it does it indirectly by its influence on upper motor neurons)
basal ganglia major roles
- refine selection and timing of motor plans from frontal lobe motor areas (e.g., premotor complex) for muscle activation
- signals premotor complex when these movements should be "turned on" and "turned off"

refines and regulates timing of motor movements indirectly via cerebral cortex UMN
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