Question 1

Axons of the _____ motor pathway cross over to the opposite side of the spinal cord at the level of the pyramids of the brainstem.
A) corticobulbar
B) ventral corticospinal
C) lateral corticospinal
D) anterior spinothalamic

Accepted Answer

The lateral corticospinal pathway is responsible for controlling voluntary movements of the limbs and trunk. Axons of this pathway originate in the motor cortex of the brain and cross over to the opposite side of the spinal cord at the level of the pyramids of the brainstem. This means that the left hemisphere of the brain controls the right side of the body and vice versa.

Question 2

The lexicon of elementary hand and mouth motor movements is contained in the _____.
A) premotor cortex
B) posterior cortex
C) primary motor cortex
D) prefrontal cortex

Accepted Answer

The primary motor cortex is responsible for executing voluntary movements, including those of the hands and mouth. It contains a representation of the body's motor output, often referred to as a motor homunculus. The premotor cortex is involved in planning and coordinating movements, while the posterior cortex is involved in processing sensory information. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for higher-level cognitive functions, such as decision-making and working memory.

Question 3

"Mirror neurons" got their name because they discharge:
A) only when a monkey sees another monkey or human make a movement.
B) when a monkey makes a movement or sees another monkey or person make that movement.
C) only when a monkey can see itself making a movement.
D) contralateral to the side of the body that makes the movement.

Accepted Answer

Mirror neurons discharge not only when an animal observes another animal or person making an action, but also when the animal itself makes the same action. Therefore, option B, which states that they discharge when a monkey makes a movement or sees another monkey or person make that movement, is the correct choice. Options A and C are incorrect because mirror neurons do not discharge only when an animal sees itself or others making a movement; rather, they are activated when both the monkey itself and other monkeys or people make the same movement. Option D is incorrect because the activity is not dependent on the contralateral side of the body that makes the movement.

Question 4

The sequencing of movements is handled by neurons located primarily in the _____.
A) premotor cortex
B) primary motor cortex
C) cerebellum
D) prefrontal cortex

Accepted Answer

The premotor cortex is responsible for organizing and planning movements, including sequencing them in the correct order.

Question 5

An important dopaminergic projection to the basal ganglia comes from neurons in the _____.
A) cerebellum
B) premotor cortex
C) substantia nigra
D) locus coeruleus

Accepted Answer

The substantia nigra is a brain area located in the midbrain that contains dopamine-producing neurons. These neurons send projections to the basal ganglia, which are involved in motor control, learning, and reward processing. Dysfunction of this dopaminergic pathway is implicated in the development of Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia.

Question 6

The flocculus is part of the _____.
A) basal ganglia
B) cerebellum
C) prefrontal lobe
D) thalamus

Accepted Answer

The flocculus is a small structure located in the cerebellum, specifically in the posterior lobe. It plays an important role in eye movement control and coordination, as well as balance and posture.

Question 7

Which three components of motor cortex organization were proposed by Graziano?
A) the part of the body moved, duration of movement, and spatial location
B) the part of the body moved, spatial location to which movement is directed, and function of movement
C) the spatial location to which a movement is directed, duration of movement, and when movement is initiated
D) the function of the movement, when the movement is initiated, and the part of the body moved

Accepted Answer

Graziano proposed that the motor cortex is organized based on three components: the part of the body moved, the spatial location to which the movement is directed, and the function of the movement. Duration of movement and when movement is initiated were not included in Graziano's proposal.

Question 8

The degenerative disorder associated with muscular rigidity and difficulty initiating and performing movements is called _____.
A) Parkinson's disease
B) Huntington's disease
C) Friedreich's ataxia
D) Tourette's syndrome

Accepted Answer

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by muscular rigidity and difficulty starting and performing movements. Symptoms include tremors, stiffness, slow movements, and impaired balance and coordination. Huntington's disease (B) is a genetic disorder that affects the brain and causes progressive muscle weakness and cognitive decline. Friedreich's ataxia (C) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by progressive damage to the nervous system that leads to difficulty walking, poor balance, and loss of coordination. Tourette's syndrome (D) is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary tics or movements and vocalizations. None of the symptoms of Tourette's syndrome involve muscular rigidity or difficulty initiating movement.

Question 9

The technique used by Roland to investigate how the neocortex produces movements was _____.
A) fMRI
B) EEG
C) selective lesions
D) cerebral blood flow

Accepted Answer

Roland used the technique of measuring cerebral blood flow to investigate how the neocortex produces movements. This method allows researchers to see which areas of the brain are more active during certain tasks by tracking the flow of blood, which increases in areas with higher activity.

Question 10

Which of these neurons project to muscles?
A) extensor neurons
B) interneurons
C) corticospinal neurons
D) pyramidal neurons
Answer Key

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of these neurons project to muscles?
A)...

Question 11

In Evarts's experiment, when are neurons in the wrist region of the motor cortex inactive?
A) when the monkey prepares to flex its wrist
B) when the monkey flexes its wrist
C) when the monkey has more weight to move with its wrist
D) when the monkey brings its wrist back to the starting position

Accepted Answer

Neurons in the wrist region of the motor cortex are inactive when the monkey brings its wrist back to the starting position, as this action does not require active motor control or force exertion.

Question 12

Damage to neural circuits in the _____ is responsible for the symptoms of Huntington's disease.
A) substantia nigra
B) caudate putamen
C) motor cortex
D) cerebellum

Accepted Answer

The caudate putamen is a region of the brain that is responsible for the initiation and control of movement. Damage to this neural circuit is known to be responsible for the symptoms of Huntington's disease, which include involuntary movements, changes in behavior, and cognitive decline. The other options listed are not typically associated with Huntington's disease.

Question 13

Which of the following appears to be a part of the role of the cerebellum?
A) planning movements
B) timing movements
C) stopping movements
D) controlling the force of movements

Accepted Answer

The cerebellum is responsible for coordinating and timing movements.

Question 14

The scientist who used pulses of electrical stimulation in conscious humans and found that stimulation of the precentral gyrus triggered movement was _____.
A) Graziano
B) Penfield
C) Hess
D) Georgopoulos

Accepted Answer

This study was conducted by Wilder Penfield in the 1950s. Graziano is known for his work on the "attention schema theory," Georgopoulos for studies on neural coding of movement, and Hess for mapping the brainstem.

Question 15

The planning of motor movements seems to be the primary responsibility of neural circuits in the _____.
A) premotor cortex
B) primary motor cortex
C) posterior cortex
D) prefrontal cortex

Accepted Answer

The answer of The planning of motor movements seems to...

Quiz 9: Extension: C - Organization of the Motor System

Axons of the _____ motor pathway cross over to the opposite side of the spinal cord at the level of the pyramids of the brainstem.

The lexicon of elementary hand and mouth motor movements is contained in the _____.

"Mirror neurons" got their name because they discharge:

The sequencing of movements is handled by neurons located primarily in the _____.

An important dopaminergic projection to the basal ganglia comes from neurons in the _____.

The flocculus is part of the _____.

Which three components of motor cortex organization were proposed by Graziano?

The degenerative disorder associated with muscular rigidity and difficulty initiating and performing movements is called _____.

The technique used by Roland to investigate how the neocortex produces movements was _____.

Which of these neurons project to muscles?

In Evarts's experiment, when are neurons in the wrist region of the motor cortex inactive?

Damage to neural circuits in the _____ is responsible for the symptoms of Huntington's disease.

Which of the following appears to be a part of the role of the cerebellum?

The scientist who used pulses of electrical stimulation in conscious humans and found that stimulation of the precentral gyrus triggered movement was _____.

The planning of motor movements seems to be the primary responsibility of neural circuits in the _____.