scholarly journals Hierarchical motor control in mammals and machines

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Josh Merel ◽  
Matthew Botvinick ◽  
Greg Wayne
Keyword(s):  
Motor Control ◽  
Hierarchical Control ◽  
Design Elements ◽  
Flexible Control ◽  
Motor Behaviors ◽  
Research Themes ◽  
Synthetic Motor ◽  
Motor Neuroscience ◽  
Simple Action ◽  
Action Spaces

AbstractAdvances in artificial intelligence are stimulating interest in neuroscience. However, most attention is given to discrete tasks with simple action spaces, such as board games and classic video games. Less discussed in neuroscience are parallel advances in “synthetic motor control”. While motor neuroscience has recently focused on optimization of single, simple movements, AI has progressed to the generation of rich, diverse motor behaviors across multiple tasks, at humanoid scale. It is becoming clear that specific, well-motivated hierarchical design elements repeatedly arise when engineering these flexible control systems. We review these core principles of hierarchical control, relate them to hierarchy in the nervous system, and highlight research themes that we anticipate will be critical in solving challenges at this disciplinary intersection.

scholarly journals Synergies in coordination: a comprehensive overview of neural, computational, and behavioral approaches

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (6) ◽  
pp. 2761-2774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Bruton ◽  
Nicholas O’Dwyer
Keyword(s):  
Motor Control ◽  
Hierarchical Control ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Control Scheme ◽  
The One ◽  
Explanatory Concept ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
And Task

At face value, the term “synergy” provides a unifying concept within a fractured field that encompasses complementary neural, computational, and behavioral approaches. However, the term is not used synonymously by different researchers but has substantially different meanings depending on the research approach. With so many operational definitions for the one term, it becomes difficult to use as either a descriptive or explanatory concept, yet it remains pervasive and apparently indispensable. Here we provide a summary of different approaches that invoke synergies in a descriptive or explanatory context, summarizing progress, not within the one approach, but across the theoretical landscape. Bernstein’s framework of flexible hierarchical control may provide a unifying framework here, since it can incorporate divergent ideas about synergies. In the current motor control literature, synergy may refer to conceptually different processes that could potentially operate in parallel, across different levels within the same hierarchical control scheme. There is evidence for the concurrent existence of synergies with different features, both “hard-wired” and “soft-wired,” and task independent and task dependent. By providing a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted ideas about synergies, our goal is to move away from the compartmentalization and narrow the focus on one level and promote a broader perspective on the control and coordination of movement.

scholarly journals Output Units of Motor Behavior: An Experimental and Modeling Study

2000 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. P. Loeb ◽  
S. F. Giszter ◽  
P. Saltiel and E. Bizzi ◽  
F. A. Mussa-Ivaldi
Keyword(s):  
Motor Control ◽  
Common Property ◽  
Motor Behavior ◽  
Muscle Synergies ◽  
Force Output ◽  
Time Dynamics ◽  
Motor Behaviors ◽  
Distinct Property ◽  
Small Set ◽  
The Brain

Cognitive approaches to motor control typically concern sequences of discrete actions without taking into account the stunning complexity of the geometry and dynamics of the muscles. This begs the question: Does the brain convert the intricate, continuous-time dynamics of the muscles into simpler discrete units of actions, and if so, how? One way for the brain to form discrete units of behavior from muscles is through the synergistic co-activation of muscles. While this possibility has long been known, the composition of potential muscle synergies has remained elusive. In this paper, we have focused on a method that allowed us to examine and compare the limb stabilization properties of all possible muscle combinations. We found that a small set (as few as 23 out of 65,536) of all possible combinations of 16 limb muscles are robust with respect to activation noise: these muscle combinations could stabilize the limb at predictable, restricted portions of the workspace in spite of broad variations in the force output of their component muscles. The locations at which the robust synergies stabilize the limb are not uniformly distributed throughout the leg's workspace, but rather, they cluster at four workspace areas. The simulated robust synergies are similar to the actual synergies we have previously found to be generated by activation of the spinal cord. Thus, we have developed a new analytical method that enabled us to select a few muscle synergies with interesting properties out of the set of possible muscle combinations. Beyond this, the identification of robustness as a common property of the synergies in simple motor behaviors will open the way to the study of dynamic stability, which is an important and distinct property of the vertebrate motor-control system.

scholarly journals A Review on Multi-Agent Technology in Micro-Grid Control

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Ding ◽  
Xiaoqi Yin
Keyword(s):  
Smart Grid ◽  
Hierarchical Control ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Renewable Generation ◽  
Flexible Control ◽  
The Future ◽  
Multi Agent ◽  
Micro Grid ◽  
Continuous Power

<p>Micro-Grid (MG) integrates renewable generation, storage devices and controllable generations, it provides efficent utilization of clean energy while keeping stable external characteristics. Capability of continuous power supply, high scalability and flexible operation modes can satifiy the current demand of joint operation of renewable generation and Macro-Grid, and will provide a solid foundation for smart grid technology in the future. Thus, MG is an excellent integration of renewable energy utilization with a bright future, Multi-Agent System (MAS) is a new hierarchical control platform and can completely cover all the devices within a MG, its flexible control modes meet the needs of various operations of MG, and the capability of distributed computing supports intelligent functions of MG in the future. Therefore, developing premium functions for MAS in MG control will promote the development of both MG and Smart Grid technologies. This paper reviews the current applications of MAS technology for MG both in basic and advanced control demands. For basic demands concerning safe operations for MG, functions of MAS are available, but a further improvement of performance is essential for future researches to increase penetration of MAS in MG control; For advanced demands, MAS should increase calculation speed to meet the complex need of MG. In the last part, the future focuses are also depicted.</p>

scholarly journals Perinatal Development of the Motor Systems Involved in Postural Control

2005 ◽  
Vol 12 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 131-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Vinay ◽  
Faïza Ben-Mabrouk ◽  
Frédéric Brocard ◽  
François Clarac ◽  
Céline Jean-Xavier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Motor Control ◽  
Brain Stem ◽  
Human Development ◽  
Motor Coordination ◽  
Prenatal Period ◽  
Motor Systems ◽  
Postnatal Maturation ◽  
Motor Behaviors ◽  
The Brain

Motor behaviors of some species, such as the rat and the human baby, are quite immature at birth. Here we review recent data on some of the mechanisms underlying the postnatal maturation of posture in the rat, in particular the development of pathways descending from the brain stem and projecting onto the lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord. A short-lasting depletion in serotonin affects both posture and the excitability of motoneurons. Here we try to extrapolate to human development and suggest that the abnormalities in motor control observed in childhood—e.g, deficits in motor coordination—might have their roots in the prenatal period, in particular serotonin depletion due to exposure to several environmental and toxicological factors during pregnancy.

scholarly journals The Hand: Shall We Ever Understand How It Works?

Motor Control ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark L. Latash
Keyword(s):  
Motor Control ◽  
Equilibrium Point ◽  
Neurological Disorder ◽  
Neural Control ◽  
Hierarchical Control ◽  
Uncontrolled Manifold ◽  
Human Hand ◽  
Uncontrolled Manifold Hypothesis ◽  
Target Article ◽  
Point Control

The target article presents a review of the neural control of the human hand. The review emphasizes the physical approach to motor control. It focuses on such concepts as equilibrium-point control, control with referent body configurations, uncontrolled manifold hypothesis, principle of abundance, hierarchical control, multidigit synergies, and anticipatory synergy adjustments. Changes in aspects of the hand neural control with age and neurological disorder are discussed. The target article is followed by six commentaries written by Alexander Aruin, Kelly Cole, Monica Perez, Robert Sainburg, Marco Sanello, and Wei Zhang.

A common hub for sleep and motor control in the substantia nigra

Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 367 (6476) ◽  
pp. 440-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danqian Liu ◽  
Weifu Li ◽  
Chenyan Ma ◽  
Weitong Zheng ◽  
Yuanyuan Yao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Control ◽  
Substantia Nigra ◽  
Motor Activity ◽  
Gabaergic Neurons ◽  
Acid Decarboxylase ◽  
Motor Behaviors ◽  
Behavioral Transitions ◽  
Brain States ◽  
Control Circuits ◽  
Brain Arousal

The arousal state of the brain covaries with the motor state of the animal. How these state changes are coordinated remains unclear. We discovered that sleep–wake brain states and motor behaviors are coregulated by shared neurons in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr). Analysis of mouse home-cage behavior identified four states with different levels of brain arousal and motor activity: locomotion, nonlocomotor movement, quiet wakefulness, and sleep; transitions occurred not randomly but primarily between neighboring states. The glutamic acid decarboxylase 2 but not the parvalbumin subset of SNr γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)–releasing (GABAergic) neurons was preferentially active in states of low motor activity and arousal. Their activation or inactivation biased the direction of natural behavioral transitions and promoted or suppressed sleep, respectively. These GABAergic neurons integrate wide-ranging inputs and innervate multiple arousal-promoting and motor-control circuits through extensive collateral projections.

Video Games and Hippocampus-Dependent Learning

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greg L. West ◽  
Kyoko Konishi ◽  
Veronique D. Bohbot
Keyword(s):  
Motor Control ◽  
Video Games ◽  
Visual Attention ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Memory System ◽  
Neural Systems ◽  
Specific Design ◽  
Design Elements ◽  
Dependent Learning ◽  
The Impact

Research examining the impact of video games on neural systems has largely focused on visual attention and motor control. Recent evidence now shows that video games can also impact the hippocampal memory system. Further, action and 3D-platform video-game genres are thought to have differential impacts on this system. In this review, we examine the specific design elements unique to either action or 3D-platform video games and break down how they could either favor or discourage use of the hippocampal memory system during gameplay. Analysis is based on well-established principles of hippocampus-dependent and non-hippocampus-dependent forms of learning from the human and rodent literature.

Dual-Hierarchical Control Mechanism of Interpersonal Embodied Interactions in Cooperative Walking

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 534-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takeshi Muto ◽  
◽  
Yoshihiro Miyake ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Control ◽  
Motion Control ◽  
Control Mechanism ◽  
Control Structure ◽  
Control Function ◽  
Hierarchical Control ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Human Interface ◽  
Entrainment Process ◽  
Motion Control Mechanism

Interpersonal embodied interactions play a significant role as emergent functions in human development and rehabilitation. However, a framework for applying embodied interactions to “human interface systems” to support such emergent functions has not yet been suggested because the details of the motorcontrol mechanism have not yet been clarified. In this study, the interpersonal cooperative walking motions of two humans, as an example of such a mechanism, have been replicated and their motor-control mechanisms analyzed. The results indicate that the hierarchical dynamics were derived from an interpersonal footstep entrainment process and an intrapersonal interaction of arm and footstep motions. We suggest that embodied interactions in cooperative walking are achieved by a dual-hierarchical control structure related to emergence of the phase-control function of interpersonal cooperative walking, based on an automatic control mechanism for interpersonal entrainment of footstep motions and an intrapersonal voluntary-motion-control mechanism.

Mild cognitive impairment affects motor control and skill learning

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiaofeng Wu ◽  
John S.Y. Chan ◽  
Jin H. Yan
Keyword(s):  
Motor Control ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Normal Aging ◽  
Skill Learning ◽  
Future Research ◽  
World Population ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Motor Behaviors

AbstractMild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional phase between normal cognitive aging and dementia. As the world population is aging rapidly, more MCI patients will be identified, posing significant problems to society. Normal aging is associated with cognitive and motor decline, and MCI brings additional impairments. Compared to healthy older adults, MCI patients show poorer motor control in a variety of tasks. Efficient motor control and skill learning are essential for occupational and leisure purposes; degradation of motor behaviors in MCI patients often adversely affects their health and quality of life. In this article, we first define MCI and describe its pathology and neural correlates. After this, we review cognitive changes and motor control and skill learning in normal aging. This section is followed by a discussion of MCI-related degradation of motor behaviors. Finally, we propose that multicomponent interventions targeting both cognitive and motor domains can improve MCI patients’ motor functions. Future research directions are also raised.

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