Physical Education, Part 1
Question 1: Compare and contrast proprioception and kinesthesis.
Answer 1: Proprioception is an individual’s perception of the arrangement of his or her own body parts. It may be applied to individual parts or to the body as a whole and to the body while stationary or while in motion. Kinesthesis is a related term which refers to the sensations of body position, tension, and movement. Although kinesthesis was formerly only concerned with moving body parts, its definition has been broadened to the point where it is almost synonymous with proprioception. An individual’s proprioception is mainly achieved by the vestibular system (a complex in the inner ear that controls balance), joints, tendons, and muscles. The varying tension and pressure on the various muscles of the body are transmitted to the brain.
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Question 2: Describe proprioception and sensorimotor control.
Answer 2: The control of muscles is mainly accomplished through the combined efforts of the muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs. Muscle spindles are tiny receptors in the muscle fiber which send and receive information to and from the central nervous system. These spindles stretch along with the muscle. Golgi tendon organs are located in the tendons that attach to muscles. They are usually concerned with slowing down any violently fast contractions by inhibiting the actions of the motor neurons in the spinal cord. Both the muscle spindles and the Golgi tendon organs work to respond to external stimuli with the appropriate muscular responses, and to keep those reactions from becoming too violent.
Question 3: Define and discuss perceptual uncertainty.
Answer 3: Individuals often have trouble reacting to external stimuli or determining a course of motor activity if they are troubled by perceptual uncertainty. Perceptual uncertainty is any doubt in the validity of one’s perceptions; it increases in proportion to the number of stimuli or events in the perceptual field. Many studies have shown that reaction time is increased as distracting stimuli are eliminated. Indeed, in many cases an absence of distraction allows the individual to begin processing a motor response before the stimuli even presents itself. This aspect of motor control is often taken advantage of by sports teams, who seek to slow down opponents by creating distractions in the visual field.
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