PSYC 2410 Study Guide - Final Guide: Withdrawal Reflex, Neuromuscular Junction, Betz Cell

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2410
• Professor: Elena Choleris

Document Summary

Operation of sensorimotor system is directed by commands that move down through the levels of the hierarchy from the association cortex (highest level) to the muscles (lowest level) Commands from the association cortex specify general goals rather than specific plans of action. Advantage of the hierarchical organization is that the higher levels of the hierarchy are left free to perform more complex functions. Parallel hierarchical system signals flow between levels over multiple paths association cortex can exert control over lower levels in more than one way. Characterized by functional segregation each level of the sensorimotor tends to be composed of different units (neural structures), each of which performs a different function. The main difference between the sensory systems and the sensorimotor system is the primary direction of information flow: sensory information flows up and sensorimotor information flows down. Sensory feedback plays an important role in directing the continuation of the responses that produce it.