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Related Concept Videos

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.
Direct Motor Pathways01:11

Direct Motor Pathways

The direct motor pathways, also known as the pyramidal tracts, are a group of neural pathways that originate in the brain and descend through the spinal cord. They control the voluntary movement of the body. There are two major direct motor pathways: the corticospinal and the corticobulbar tracts.
The corticospinal tract is responsible for the voluntary movement of the limbs and trunk. It originates in the cerebral cortex of the brain and descends through the cerebrum's internal capsule and the...
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...
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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Using Virtual Reality to Transfer Motor Skill Knowledge from One Hand to Another
05:12

Using Virtual Reality to Transfer Motor Skill Knowledge from One Hand to Another

Published on: September 18, 2017

Bridging the divide in motor learning research.

Eric Grießbach1,2, Alfredo Hernandez-Inostroza3, Rouwen Cañal-Bruland4

  • 1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. griessbach.eric@gmail.com.

Nature Human Behaviour
|July 6, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Motor learning, crucial for skill acquisition, is studied by two separate research communities. Integrating computational neuroscience and experimental psychology can advance the science of motor learning.

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Last Updated: Jul 8, 2026

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Area of Science:

  • Motor learning research
  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Motor learning is essential for acquiring and refining human movements.
  • Research on motor learning is divided between computational neuroscience (basic research) and experimental psychology/movement sciences (applied research).
  • These communities have historically operated independently, using different methods and theoretical frameworks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To scrutinize the divide between basic and applied motor learning research communities.
  • To review current efforts toward integrating these communities.
  • To identify future opportunities for a more comprehensive science of motor learning.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and analysis of the historical development of motor learning research.
  • Examination of experimental tasks, theoretical frameworks, and cultural norms in distinct research communities.
  • Identification of emerging integration efforts and future research directions.

Main Results:

  • The study highlights a historical and disciplinary divide between basic and applied motor learning research.
  • Emerging efforts show promise for bridging this gap.
  • Integration can lead to a more holistic understanding of motor learning.

Conclusions:

  • Bridging the divide between computational neuroscience and experimental psychology is crucial for advancing motor learning science.
  • Enhanced integration promises a more comprehensive understanding of how humans acquire and perfect movement skills.
  • Future opportunities lie in fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and communication.