Chapter 35 Clinical observations on the emotional motor system

Abstract

This chapter describes clinical observations on non-verbal aspects of motor control relevant to the emotional motor system. Although motor activity is usually considered, at least at first glance, in terms of its voluntary aspects there are other motor activities that occur spontaneously and are not easily or accurately mimicked on a voluntary basis or in response to verbal instruction. These motor activities are mediated, in large part, by an emotional or non-verbal motor system. There are three relatively independent operations of several anatomically distinct motor systems in man: (1) controlling distal appendicular musculature that can be activated volitionally in a highly fractionated manner, (2) involving more proximal axial musculature involved in whole body activities such as maintenance of posture, body steering, and orientation, and (3) a third motor system innervates the facial and bulbar musculature involved in emotional expression and other affective displays. These three systems for motor control utilize relatively independent, descending pathways. Although neuroanatomic studies have provided much of the basis for the understanding of multiple motor systems in primates, the existence of these parallel systems can also be inferred from clinical observation.