Course Description
Course Director:
Dr. Lauren Sergio
350 Bethune
Ext: 33641
e-mail: lsergio@yorku.ca
Course description:
This course will survey the role of different cerebral cortical and sub-cortical areas in controlling voluntary movements. Following a review of the fundamental concepts in motor control and basic neuroanatomy, students will give presentations summarizing what is currently known about the motor function of different brain regions, and the effect of damage/disease on these functions. Data from theoretical, experimental, and patient studies will be used to illustrate how various areas such as primary motor, premotor, parietal, and cerebellar cortices are involved in the planning and execution of sensory-guided voluntary motor behaviour. There will be two articles assigned for each topic which, along with the presentation, will be discussed in class. Course evaluation will be based on class participation, a presentation, article discussions, and weekly article-based quizzes.
Evaluation: Presentation (1) & handout 30%
Article discussions (4) & handout 40%
Participation 12%
Weekly quizzes (9) 18%
Text: The articles to be presented each week will be assigned in the first class. The following
textbooks may be of use and are in the Steacie Library:
1. Kandel et al. Principles of Neural Science,4th ed. 2000
2. Rothwell, J. Control of human voluntary movement,2nd ed.,1994
3. Kolb, B. and Whishaw, I.Q. Fundamentals of human neuropsychology, 2nd ed. 1985