Use of quantitative three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging techniques to determine the volume of the imaged brain and its sub-structures of interest. Sometimes referred to as volumetric structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI). See Brain (neuro-) imaging, Cerebral cortex (development), Structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI)
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Movement
Single or combined motor patterns that contribute to the formation of higher-order goal-directed actions; also used for dynamical processes more generally. The late dynamical systems theorist, Edward S. Reed (1954-1997), intriguingly portrayed movements as transitions between postures. One classification distinguishes among discrete movements (those with a clear-cut onset and offset, e.g., reaching, catching, throwing), serial …
Movement (or motor) coordination
The organization of the body’s many components into a controllable behavioral unit in order to achieve an intended goal. It involves many effectors at many levels in motor system. Just from the perspective of biomechanics, coordination has to occur between individual muscles and joints, as well as between limbs. Imagine moving an arm so that …
Motor unit
Consists of alpha motoneuron together with its axon and extrafusal muscles. The size of the motor unit varies from three fibers for the eye muscles to as many as 500 for muscles in the back, but the size can be altered by training. Muscle contraction is regulated via change in the number of motor units …
Motor Performance Study (Michigan State University)
A mixed-longitudinal study begun in 1967, including observations on developmental stages for several fundamental movement patterns. The study also includes measures of growth status and several motor performance variables. See Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), Fundamental movement patterns, Growth, Longitudinal studies, Motor development, Stage, Tanner stages
Motor skill
The accuracy, precision and economy of performance of a specific movement pattern relative to a particular task. A well-established classification for such movement patterns is that between open and closed skills, first introduced by E. Christopher Poulton in his monograph Anticipation open and closed sensorimotor skills. Cambridge: Medical Research Council, 1950. It was later applied …
Motor noise
Excessive background neural activity in the motor system, resulting in difficulties in motor control and increased variation in movement response (e.g., from trial-to-trial). In fact, noise (i.e., random disturbances in signals) poses fundamental problems for information processing and all aspects of nervous system functioning down to the cellular level. In terms of motor control,a better …
Motor learning
A process associated with practice or experience leading to relatively permanent changes in motor skill capacities. While it is a very general term, it is has been used in the past to contrast forms of learning in which perception or cognition are considered to be more critical, which in essence is a sort of dualism. …
Motor milestone
A key movement behavior or an identifiable state of organization of body parts or the whole body that appears during the first years of life and is used to signal that development is proceeding normally. Examples of motor milestones include sitting, crawling, standing and walking. Typically, these achievements are classified as gross motor abilities in …
Motor inhibition
The ability to inhibit a behavioral response or action, and involving widespread regions of the brain (but especially the prefrontal cortex). It assessed by response inhibition tasks such as the go/no go task as the Stroop test, and constitutes an important expression of executive functioning. When this ability becomes impaired, it manifests itself in disorders …