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Related Concept Videos

Alterations in Muscle Tone lll01:11

Alterations in Muscle Tone lll

Rigidity and myotonia are distinct abnormalities of muscle tone that affect resistance and relaxation during movement. Although both involve altered muscle contraction, they arise from different neurological and muscular mechanisms.CharacteristicsRigidity is characterized by uniform resistance to passive movement across the entire range, independent of speed, affecting flexors and extensors equally. It may appear as lead-pipe rigidity (smooth, constant resistance) or cogwheel rigidity...
Alterations in Muscle Tone ll01:12

Alterations in Muscle Tone ll

Alterations in muscle tone are common manifestations of neurological disorders and reflect dysfunction within different nervous system regions. Spasticity, paratonia, and dystonia represent distinct forms of hypertonia, each with unique mechanisms, clinical features, and diagnostic importance.CharacteristicsSpasticity happens from upper motor neuron lesions and is characterized by velocity-dependent resistance to passive movement. Clinical features include:Exaggerated deep tendon reflexesClonus...
Motor Units01:13

Motor Units

The motor unit is a fundamental component of the neuromuscular system and plays a crucial role in coordinating muscle contractions. It consists of a somatic motor neuron, which connects and controls multiple skeletal muscle fibers, forming a single functional segment. The axon of the motor neuron branches out and establishes synaptic connections known as neuromuscular junctions with individual muscle fibers within the motor unit.
Motor units come in different sizes, with smaller units...
Motor Units00:46

Motor Units

A motor unit consists of two main components: a single efferent motor neuron (i.e., a neuron that carries impulses away from the central nervous system) and all of the muscle fibers it innervates. The motor neuron may innervate multiple muscle fibers, which are single cells, but only one motor neuron innervates a single muscle fiber.
Motor Unit Stimulation01:20

Motor Unit Stimulation

When the neuron of a motor unit fires an action potential, it triggers a series of events, leading to a twitch contraction in the muscle fibers. The process of excitation-contraction coupling is crucial in relaying the action potential to the muscle fibers.
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
Hierarchy of Motor Control01:18

Hierarchy of Motor Control

The hierarchy of motor control refers to the different levels of organization and processing involved in controlling movement in the body. These levels range from higher cortical areas involved in planning and decision-making to lower spinal cord reflexes that respond automatically to external stimuli.

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Inchworming: A Novel Motor Stereotypy in the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J Mouse Model of Autism
08:03

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Published on: July 5, 2014

Motor stereotypies.

Harvey S Singer1

  • 1Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. hsinger@jhmi.edu

Seminars in Pediatric Neurology
|June 9, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Stereotypic movements, common in autism and typically developing children, are broadly defined. Emerging evidence suggests a neurobiological basis for these repetitive behaviors, despite varied therapeutic outcomes.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Stereotypic movements are widespread across diverse populations, including individuals with autism spectrum disorder and typically developing children.
  • Current definitions of stereotypic movements (restricted, repetitive, purposeless) are imprecise, encompassing a wide range of activities.
  • These movements are often categorized as primary (physiological) or secondary (pathological) based on associated clinical signs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the definition and classification of stereotypic movements.
  • To review the proposed mechanisms underlying stereotypic movements, including arousal modulation and neurobiological underpinnings.
  • To assess the efficacy of current therapeutic interventions for stereotypic movements.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on stereotypic movements.
  • Analysis of definitions and classifications of repetitive behaviors.
  • Examination of research on the neurobiology and behavioral aspects of stereotypic movements.
  • Evaluation of outcomes from behavioral and pharmacological therapies.

Main Results:

  • The definition of stereotypic movements is broad and lacks precise boundaries.
  • While some theories propose arousal modulation as a cause, evidence increasingly points to underlying neurobiological mechanisms.
  • Behavioral and pharmacological therapies demonstrate variable effectiveness in managing these movements.

Conclusions:

  • Stereotypic movements represent a complex phenomenon with a need for clearer definition and classification.
  • Further research into the neurobiological basis is warranted.
  • Optimizing therapeutic strategies requires a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms.