Question

A male patient is able to perform reaching movements spontaneously, but is unable to do so when he is asked to by his neurologist. This patient has most likely suffered damage to the premotor cortex.

A) Somatosensory cortex
B) Occipital cortex
C) Temporal cortex
D) Frontal cortex

Answer 1

The patient with damaged ability to perform reaching movements on command likely has damage to the premotor cortex, located in the Frontal cortex. The Frontal cortex is responsible for planning and executing movements, and the correct answer to the question is D) Frontal cortex.

Step-by-step explanation:

The male patient in question, who can perform reaching movements spontaneously but not when asked, has likely suffered from damage to the premotor cortex. The premotor cortex is involved in planning and executing movements upon direct command and is located in the frontal lobe of the brain. The correct answer is D) Frontal cortex, as the premotor cortex is a part of this lobe.

It works in conjunction with the primary motor cortex, which is situated in the precentral gyrus of the same lobe and is responsible for sending the necessary signals for muscle contraction and motor function. The premotor cortex and the primary motor cortex are essential for executing voluntary motor actions, while the somatosensory cortex, occipital cortex, and temporal cortex serve different functions, such as sensation, vision, and auditory processing respectively.