THEORIES OF MOTOR CONTROL
Part B - Motor Programming Theories
THE CENTRAL PATTERN GENERATORS (CPG)
A turning point in stroke management
More recent theories of motor control have expanded
our understanding of the CNS. They have moved
away from views of the CNS as a mostly reactive
system and have begun to explore the physiology of
actions rather than the physiology of reactions. Refl ex
theories have been useful in explaining certain stereotyped
patterns of movement. However, an interesting
way of viewing refl exes is to consider that one
can remove the stimulus, or the afferent input, and
still have a patterned motor response (VanSant, 1987).
If we remove the motor response from its stimulus,
we are left with the concept of a central motor pattern.
This concept of a central motor pattern, or motor
program, is more fl exible than the concept of a refl ex
because it can either be activated by sensory stimuli or
by central processes. Scientists who contributed to the
development of this theory include individuals from
clinical, psychological, and biological backgrounds
(Bernstein, 1967; Keele, 1968; Wilson, 1961).
The concept of central pattern generators expanded
our understanding of the role of the nervous system in
the control of movement. However, we must be careful
to realize that the central pattern generator concept
was never intended to replace the concept of the
importance of sensory input in controlling movement.
It simply expanded our understanding of the fl exibility
of the nervous system in creating movements to
include its ability to create movements in isolation
from feedback.
9 сен 2024
