The Organization of a Simple Synergy

描述(申请人提供)：在之前的支持期间，我们引入、探索和开发了一种基于丰富性原则和使用非受控流形假说的计算工具的运动协同方法。现在我们建议重点关注三个主要目标。首先，我们计划分析控制层次结构中不同级别的协同效应的交互作用。其次，我们将探索使用协同控制的目的和好处，从而更接近于将这些想法应用到日常运动和混乱的运动中。第三，我们将探讨离散和循环两类基本行动所涉及的协同效应之间的差异。计划中的实验将解决以下主要问题：协同作用的目的是什么？控制层次结构中不同级别的协同作用如何相互作用？在循环和离散作用过程中，协同机制是否存在质的差异？我们将使用我们小组建造的几个新颖的实验装置进行八个实验，如“倒置钢琴”、“折叠杯”和“带弹簧传感器的手柄”。每个实验将测试2-4个具体的假设。这项研究的长期目标是发展一种连贯的理论观点，并促进目前对自然多效应器人类运动如何控制和协调的理解。发展这样的观点将对预防和治疗运动障碍的实践产生深远的影响。这些研究还将有助于开发一个工具箱，以研究运动在正常和无序运动中的协同作用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): During the previous period of support, we have introduced, explored, and developed an approach to motor synergies based on the principle of abundance and using the computational tools of the uncontrolled manifold hypothesis. Now we suggest focusing on three major goals. First, we plan to analyze interaction of synergies at different levels of a control hierarchy. Second, we will explore the purposes and benefits of using synergic control to move closer to application of these ideas to everyday movements and disordered movements. Third, we will explore differences between the synergies involved in two basic classes of actions, discrete and cyclic. The planned experiments will address the following main questions: What is the purpose of synergies? How do synergies at different levels of a control hierarchy interact with each other? Are there qualitative differences in the synergic mechanisms during cyclic and discrete actions? We will perform eight experiments using several of the novel experimental devices constructed in our group, such as the "inverse piano", the "collapsing cup", and the "handle with spring-loaded sensors". Each experiment will test 2-4 specific hypotheses. The long-term goal of this research is to develop a coherent theoretical view on and advance the current understanding of how natural multieffector human movements are controlled and coordinated. Developing such a view would have a profound impact on the practice of preventing and treating motor disorders. These studies will also contribute to developing a toolbox to study motor synergies during both unimpaired and disordered movements.