PSY290H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Corticospinal Tract, Posterior Parietal Cortex, Basal Ganglia
Document Summary
There are three principles of sensorimotor control: the sensorimotor system is hierarchically organized, motor output is guided by sensory input, learning can change the nature and locus of sensorimotor control. The main advantage of the hierarchical organization is that higher levels are left free to perform more complex functions. The sensorimotor system is a system in which signals flow between levels over multiple paths, and so the association cortex can control the lower levels in more than one way. The sensorimotor system is also characterized by functional segregation. That is each level of the sensorimotor system tends to be composed of different units which performs different functions. The main difference between the sensory systems and the sensorimotor system is that in sensory systems information mainly flows up, in the sensorimotor system information mainly flows down. Governed by sensory feedback and plays an important role in directing the continuation of the responses that produce it.
