Question

Regarding the placement of pedal controls in a car, what is the possible reason for having them far from the motor cortex?

a) Spinal reflexes may provide quicker reaction times than signals to the motor cortex.
b) The motor cortex is not involved in controlling pedal movements.
c) Pedal controls must be far from the motor cortex for safety reasons.
d) There is no relationship between pedal placement and the motor cortex.

Answer 1

Pedal controls in a car are placed far from the motor cortex because spinal reflexes provide quicker reaction times than signals to the motor cortex.

Step-by-step explanation:

The possible reason for having pedal controls far from the motor cortex in a car is that spinal reflexes may provide quicker reaction times than signals to the motor cortex. Reflexes are quick, unconscious movements controlled by local synaptic connections in the spinal cord. For example, the knee reflex involves a single synapse between a sensory neuron and a motor neuron, bypassing the brain. This allows for faster responses in situations where quick reactions are needed, such as when using the pedals while driving.