Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Oscillations about an Equilibrium Position01:04

Oscillations about an Equilibrium Position

Stability is an important concept in oscillation. If an equilibrium point is stable, a slight disturbance of an object that is initially at the stable equilibrium point will cause the object to oscillate around that point. For an unstable equilibrium point, if the object is disturbed slightly, it will not return to the equilibrium point. There are three conditions for equilibrium points—stable, unstable, and half-stable. A half-stable equilibrium point is also unstable, but is named so because...
Stability of Equilibrium Configuration: Problem Solving01:13

Stability of Equilibrium Configuration: Problem Solving

The stability of equilibrium configurations is an important concept in physics, engineering, and other related fields. In simple terms, it refers to the tendency of an object or system to return to its equilibrium position after being disturbed. The stability of an equilibrium configuration can be analyzed by considering the potential energy function of the system and examining its behavior near the equilibrium point.
Problem-solving in the context of the stability of equilibrium configuration...
Potential-Energy Criterion for Equilibrium01:16

Potential-Energy Criterion for Equilibrium

Potential energy or potential function plays an essential role in determining the stability of a mechanical system. If a system is subjected to both gravitational and elastic forces, the potential function of the system can be expressed as the algebraic sum of gravitational and elastic potential energy. If the system is in equilibrium and is displaced by a small amount, then the work done on the system equals the negative of the change in the system's potential energy from the initial to the...
Stability of Equilibrium Configuration01:23

Stability of Equilibrium Configuration

Understanding the stability of equilibrium configurations is a fundamental part of mechanical engineering. In any system, there are three distinct types of equilibrium: stable, neutral, and unstable.
A stable equilibrium occurs when a system tends to return to its original position when given a small displacement, and the potential energy is at its minimum. An example of a stable equilibrium is when a cantilever beam is fixed at one end and a weight is attached to the other end. If the weight...
Equilibrium Conditions for a Particle01:23

Equilibrium Conditions for a Particle

When an object is in equilibrium, it is either at rest or moving with a constant velocity. There are two types of equilibrium: static and dynamic. Static equilibrium occurs when an object is at rest, while dynamic equilibrium occurs when an object is moving with a constant velocity. In both cases, there must be a balance of forces acting on the object.
To understand the concept of equilibrium, let us first consider the forces acting on an object. When different forces act on an object, they can...
Energy Diagrams - II01:10

Energy Diagrams - II

Energy diagrams are important to understand the dynamics of a system. The topology of an energy diagram helps illustrate the equilibrium points of the system.
The point in the energy diagram at which the system’s potential energy is the lowest is known as the local minima. The system tends to stay in this position indefinitely unless acted upon by a net force. The slope of the potential energy diagram at the local minima is zero, indicating that zero net force is acting on the system. The slope...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Individualized Virtual Angle Offset Training for Patients with Stroke.

Journal of motor behavior·2026
Same author

Spinal mechanisms and feasibility of Dry Needling versus Botulinum Toxin Type A in post-stroke lower limb spasticity: A proof-of-concept randomized clinical trial protocol (STROKE-POC).

PloS one·2026
Same author

Between a Rock and a Hard Place in Science: A Biographical Account of One Discovery.

Motor control·2026
Same author

Enhancing Extended Reality Technology for Neuromusculoskeletal Rehabilitation: Recommendations for the Development of Clinically Relevant Serious Games.

Journal of personalized medicine·2026
Same author

Tools and methods for assessing the usability and related aspects of usability of extended reality and telerehabilitation technologies in stroke rehabilitation: a scoping review.

Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation·2025
Same author

Synergies and other behaviors in the context of the referent control theory of action and perception.

Experimental brain research·2025
Same journal

Peptidomics in the Spotlight: Advanced Sample Treatment Techniques and Analytical Insights.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

Methods for the Investigation of Protein-Ligands Interactions.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

Sample Preparation Strategies for Microbial Cell Surface Proteomics: Integrating Shaving and Shotgun Approaches.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

Proteomic Sample Preparation for the Petroleum Industry: A Biocorrosion Case Study.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

Proteomic and Functional Comparison of Extracellular Vesicles from Wild-Type and Lyn-Deficient Stromal Cells.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

Proteomic Analysis of Histone Sequence Variants and Post-translationally Modified Forms.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies
08:24

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies

Published on: August 25, 2023

The equilibrium-point hypothesis--past, present and future.

Anatol G Feldman1, Mindy F Levin

  • 1Department of Physiology, University of Montreal, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Canada. feldman@med.umontreal.ca

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|February 21, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The threshold control theory (TCT) explains motor control by focusing on neural thresholds. It addresses multi-muscle coordination and incorporates cognitive aspects of neural recognition and motor learning for future development.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies
08:24

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies

Published on: August 25, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • The equilibrium-point hypothesis, now termed threshold control theory (TCT), offers a framework for understanding motor control.
  • Existing motor control theories face challenges in explaining multi-muscle and multi-degree-of-freedom redundancy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a concise overview of the threshold control theory (TCT).
  • To compare TCT with alternative motor control approaches.
  • To highlight TCT's solutions for redundancy problems and its cognitive components.

Main Methods:

  • Review of the fundamental principles of the threshold control theory (TCT).
  • Comparative analysis of TCT against other motor control theories.
  • Examination of TCT's mechanisms for neural recognition and motor learning.

Main Results:

  • TCT provides a robust explanation for motor control, particularly addressing the redundancy problem in systems with multiple muscles and degrees of freedom.
  • The theory integrates cognitive functions, explaining how neural processes recognize matches between internal and external events.
  • TCT offers a foundation for understanding how motor learning occurs.

Conclusions:

  • The threshold control theory (TCT) presents a viable model for motor control, effectively handling complex biomechanical challenges.
  • Incorporation of cognitive aspects and motor learning mechanisms are key areas for the continued advancement of TCT.
  • TCT offers a promising avenue for future research in understanding the neural basis of movement.