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Where are the pre-olivary nuclei located?

a) In the brainstem
b) In the spinal cord
c) In the cerebellum
d) In the cortex

User Pasawaya
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The pre-olivary nuclei, located in the medulla of the brainstem, are part of the inferior olive which coordinates motor control with sensory input. They send projections to the cerebellum to aid in the adjustment of movements. The frontal lobe contains the primary motor cortex involved in abstract thought and planning.

Step-by-step explanation:

The pre-olivary nuclei refer to the inferior olive which is a large nucleus located in the medulla within the brainstem. This particular structure plays a pivotal role in motor coordination by receiving input from sensory systems and sending projections to the cerebellum. It is essentially involved in the feedback loop that allows for the fine-tuning of movements.

When descending fibers from the cerebrum, specifically from the primary motor cortex of the frontal lobe, send commands to initiate an action like walking, branches connect to neurons in the pons which in turn project into the cerebellum. Concurrently, the inferior olive in the medulla receives sensory feedback from the periphery and this information is also sent to the cerebellum to be compared with the original motor command. When there's a discrepancy, the cerebellum can send out corrective signals to optimize the movement.

The frontal lobe is responsible for abstract thought, problem-solving, and planning. Since the cell body of neuron A is located in this lobe, it suggests that this neuron might be part of that higher cognitive function.

User Derek Thurn
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