Deck 8: Control of Movement

Question 1

The function of the gamma motor neuron is to

A) detect changes in the muscle fiber length.
B) stimulate the muscle to contract.
C) limit the degree of contraction of the muscle.
D) coordinate the contraction of extensor and flexor muscles.
E) control the sensitivity of the muscle spindle.

Answer 1

E

Question 2

Muscle contraction occurs when the myosin cross bridges row along the length of the ______ filaments.

A) myosin
B) actin
C) intrafusal
D) extrafusal
E) myofibril

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Muscle-builders show off their muscles by

A) activating their autonomic nervous system.
B) willing the activation of their extensor muscles.
C) willing the activation of their flexor muscles.
D) simultaneously contracting their flexor and extensor muscles.
E) ingesting large amounts of sympathomimetic drugs.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Overlapping strands of actin and myosin form the

A) intrafusal fibers.
B) gamma fibers.
C) motor unit.
D) myofibrils.
E) alpha motor axons.

Question 5

The endplate potential

A) is a small amplitude depolarization of the muscle fiber membrane.
B) always inhibits the muscle fiber.
C) is caused by the release of acetylcholine from the terminal buttons.
D) involves an IPSP of the muscle fiber.
E) is caused by the release of glycine from the terminal buttons.

Question 6

The firing rate of the ________ determines the strength of contraction of a muscle.

A) intrafusal muscle fibers
B) Golgi tendon organs
C) afferent fibers
D) gamma motor neurons
E) alpha motor neurons

Question 7

The ________ is formed by the synapse of an efferent nerve terminal onto a muscle fiber.

A) myofibril tangle
B) motor unit
C) neuromuscular junction
D) intrafusal contact
E) muscle spindle

Question 8

Another name for the muscle spindles is

A) intrafusal muscle fibers.
B) Golgi tendon organs.
C) afferent fibers.
D) gamma motor neurons.
E) alpha motor neurons.

Question 9

A ________ consists of the extrafusal fibers innervated by a single alpha motor neuron.

A) myofibril tangle
B) motor unit
C) extrafusal junction
D) intrafusal contact
E) muscle spindle

Question 10

Which of the following is true of skeletal muscle?

A) Contraction of skeletal muscle can alter blood flow through the heart.
B) Skeletal muscle contraction produces movements of the body.
C) Skeletal muscles pump blood throughout the body.
D) Flexion of a skeletal muscle causes limbs to move outward from the body.
E) Extensors are skeletal muscles that cause limbs to draw in to the body.

Question 11

The presence of dark stripes in skeletal muscles is due to

A) the presence of blood vessels within the muscle fibers.
B) thickened membranes at the neuromuscular junctions.
C) variations in myelin coating of the muscle fibers.
D) overlapping segments of actin and myosin filaments.
E) alternating motor units.

Question 12

Muscle tension is sensed by ________, whereas muscle fiber length is sensed by ________.

A) extrafusal fibers; Golgi tendon organs
B) intrafusal fibers; extrafusal fibers
C) Golgi tendon organs; intrafusal fibers
D) motor neurons; intrafusal fibers
E) multiunit fibers; myofibrils

Question 13

after a stroke involving his left parietal lobe was a(n)

A) inability to control his left hand.
B) problem in perceiving movement.
C) difficulty in reading.
D) inability to make movements on command.
E) inability to speak.

Question 14

Flexion refers to

A) detection in the changes in the muscle fiber length.
B) movement of a limb away from the body.
C) inhibiting the degree of contraction of the muscle.
D) drawing in of a limb toward the body.
E) growth of muscle fibers with repeared use.

Question 15

The function of intrafusal muscle fibers is to

A) detect changes in the muscle fiber length.
B) stimulate the muscle to contract.
C) limit the degree of contraction of the muscle.
D) coordinate the contraction of extensor and flexor muscles.
E) detect how hard the muscle is pulling.

Question 16

The neurotransmitter of the neuromuscular junction is

A) dopamine.
B) GABA.
C) glutamate.
D) glycine.
E) acetylcholine.

Question 17

Our body movements are mediated by contraction of _______ muscle.

A) intrafusal
B) skeletal
C) cardiac
D) smooth
E) non-striated

Question 18

The physical effects of a muscle twitch last longer than the action potential that triggered the contraction because

A) muscle fibers lack elasticity.
B) it takes time to extrude calcium ions out of the fiber.
C) the acetylcholine molecules are slowly cleared from the neuromuscular junction.
D) the twitches run back and forth along the muscle fiber.
E) muscle fibers are thicker than axons.

Question 19

The ultimate function of our nervous system is to

A) control our behavior.
B) make decisions.
C) record our sensory experiences.
D) preserve our memories.
E) allow us to communicate with others.

Question 20

The event(s) that induce contraction of a muscle fiber are the

A) entry of calcium ions into the cytoplasm of the muscle fiber.
B) entry of chloride ions into the cytoplasm of the muscle fiber.
C) release of acetylcholine onto the postsynaptic membrane.
D) separation of the actin and myosin filaments.
E) movement of potassium ions into the muscle fiber.

Question 21

Which of the following terms go together?

A) decussation; ipsilateral
B) ventral corticospinal tract; control of the fingers
C) decussation; contralateral
D) lateral corticospinal tract; control of the upper legs
E) pyramidal tract; pons

Question 22

An important function of the monosynaptic stretch reflex is to

A) coordinate the movements of the flexors on each limb.
B) smooth out muscle contractions.
C) provide feedback to the brain about motor activity.
D) alter the speed with which an arm moves while throwing a ball.
E) help maintain posture.

Question 23

An indirect way through which the brain modulates muscle tension is to

A) alter the firing rate in the gamma motor system.
B) induce presynaptic inhibition.
C) block the release of acetylcholine into the junction.
D) excite the Golgi tendon organs.
E) inhibit the monosynaptic stretch reflex.

Question 24

The ________ functions in the control of movements of the upper legs and the trunk.

A) lateral corticospinal tract
B) ventral corticospinal tract
C) spinothalamic tract
D) rubrospinal tract
E) corticobulbar pathway

Question 25

An example of a polysynaptic reflex is/are

A) the patellar reflex.
B) postural reflexes.
C) the ejaculation of semen.
D) adjustments that steady a limb during a constant load.
E) the GTO reflex.

Question 26

The patellar reflex

A) begins in the hindbrain.
B) is a polysynaptic reflex.
C) is a classically conditioned fear reaction.
D) does not involve the brain.
E) is exhibited when a person is asked to move one leg as quickly as possible after being touched on the knee.

Question 27

The ________ controls the muscles of the limbs and fingers.

A) lateral corticospinal tract
B) ventral corticospinal tract
C) spinothalamic tract
D) rubrospinal tract
E) corticobulbar pathway

Question 28

The neurons of the primary motor cortex receive important inputs from the

A) pons.
B) amygdala.
C) tertiary somatosensory cortex.
D) basal ganglia.
E) medulla.

Question 29

The functional significance of the Golgi tendon organs is to

A) allow us to lift heavy loads.
B) reduce muscle relaxation.
C) maintain muscle tone.
D) simultaneously contract flexor and extensor muscles.
E) prevent the tearing of muscle fibers from a tendon.

Question 30

Which of the following is true of the motor homunculus?

A) Damage to a part of the motor homunculus on one side of the brain would impair motor function of the entire body on the same side as the damage.
B) The homunculus represents the specific body muscle groups that are controlled by specific regions of the cortex.
C) The homunculus represents the specific body parts that send afferent signals to a specific region of the cortex.
D) There is only one homunculus in the human brain.
E) The homunculus depicts sensory function.

Question 31

________ is a spatial representation of the specific cortical areas that control specific body movements.

A) motor homunculus
B) choreogram
C) somatogram
D) corticotopic map
E) audiogram

Question 32

The sensitivity of the muscle spindle fiber is controlled by input from

A) Golgi tendon organs.
B) gamma motor neurons.
C) myofibrils.
D) alpha motoneurons.
E) striated muscle fibers.

Question 33

A transection through the ________ of a cat is likely to produce ________.

A) cerebellum; decreased activity of the gamma motor neurons
B) corpus callosum; decerebrate flaccidity
C) brain stem; decerebrate rigidity
D) hypothalamus; inhibition of all stretch reflexes
E) spinal cord; loss of the clasp-knife reflex

Question 34

A key function of low-sensitivity afferents from the Golgi tendon organ is to

A) increase the firing rate of the gamma motor system.
B) increase the amount of acetylcholine released into the motor synapse.
C) prevent the risk of tearing a tendon from a bone or breaking a bone.
D) decrease the amount of glycine released onto alpha motor neurons in the spinal cord.
E) decrease the amount of acetylcholine released into the motor synapse.

Question 35

Which of the following is an example of a monosynaptic reflex?

A) the patellar reflex
B) the flexing of the leg muscles in preparation to run
C) ejaculation of semen
D) the activation of the reticular activation system during a painful stimulus
E) moving a limb in response to a verbal command

Question 36

________ will increase their rate of firing in response to a large increase in the tension exerted on a muscle.

A) Extrafusal fibers
B) Golgi tendon organs
C) Intrafusal fibers
D) Pacinian corpuscles
E) Free nerve endings

Question 37

The vertical patch of cortex located rostral to the central sulcus is known as the

A) primary visual cortex.
B) prefrontal cortex.
C) temporal association cortex.
D) primary motor cortex.
E) primary somatosensory cortex.

Question 38

Which of the following is an example of a polysynaptic reflex?

A) the patellar reflex
B) the withdrawal of a limb in response to pain
C) secretion of saliva
D) the monosynaptic stretch reflex
E) contraction of a muscle induced by application of electrical current to the muscle

Question 39

The results of cortical stimulation studies indicate that a disproportionate amount of motor cortex is devoted to the control of movements of the

A) fingers.
B) lips and tongue.
C) genitals.
D) stomach.
E) arms and legs.

Question 40

The ________ controls movements of the tongue, face, and some eye muscles.

A) lateral corticospinal tract
B) ventral corticospinal tract
C) spinothalamic tract
D) rubrospinal tract
E) corticobulbar tract

Question 41

Damage involving the ________ tract would be expected to impair your ability to grasp and manipulate objects with your fingers.

A) lateral corticospinal
B) vestibulospinal
C) tectospinal
D) reticulospinal
E) premotor-striatal

Question 42

Imaging studies indicate strong activation of the pre-SMA region during

A) random hand movements.
B) performance of a learned sequence of button presses.
C) movement of the eyes.
D) planning of motor movements.
E) scanning a screen for visual cues.

Question 43

The ________ controls movements of the upper legs and trunk.

A) lateral corticospinal tract
B) ventral corticospinal tract
C) spinothalamic tract
D) rubrospinal tract
E) corticobulbar pathway

Question 44

Damage involving the ________ tract would be expected to impair walking as well as automatic functions such as breathing and sneezing.

A) lateral corticospinal
B) corticoospinal
C) tectospinal
D) reticulospinal
E) premotor-striatal

Question 45

A key function of ventral premotor cortex is to

A) facilitate the performance of a series of movements.
B) allow primates to use visual cues to imitate the motor actions of others.
C) evoke the desire to perform a movement.
D) allow an organism to learn to respond with a specific movement to a nonarbitrary visual cue.
E) dampen overactivity of the basal ganglia.

Question 46

________ refers to an impairment of the ability to execute a learned movement.

A) Paralysis
B) Parkinsonism
C) Atonia
D) Akinesia
E) Apraxia

Question 47

Damage involving the ________ tract would be expected to impair posture.

A) lateral corticospinal
B) vestibulospinal
C) tectospinal
D) reticulospinal
E) premotor-striatal

Question 48

Apraxia is characterized by

A) motor paralysis.
B) an impairment in learning a new motor skill.
C) muscle weakness.
D) the inability to properly carry out a learned, skilled movement.
E) an impairment in motor coordination.

Question 49

A person with constructional apraxia would be expected to have difficulty in

A) showing how to use an object such as a toothbrush.
B) making skilled movements with arms and hands.
C) building a puzzle from blocks.
D) describing in words how to use an object.
E) using his or her left limb to make a skilled movement.

Question 50

A key function of premotor cortex is to

A) allow an organism to learn to respond to an arbitary visual clue with a learned, specific movement.
B) facilitate the performance of a series of movements.
C) evoke the desire to perform a movement.
D) allow an organism to learn to respond with a specific movement to a nonarbitrary visual cue.
E) modulate the activity of the basal ganglia and limbic system.

Question 51

A key function of the rubrospinal tract is to

A) interconnect the spinal cord with the substantia nigra.
B) modulate the activity of the ventromedial group.
C) control the movements of the eyes to a moving stimulus.
D) control movements of the forearms and hands.
E) provide the motivation for movement.

Question 52

The planning of motor movements by the frontal association cortex is executed through connections with

A) the supplemental motor cortex.
B) Broca's area.
C) the frontorbital cortex.
D) the hypothalamus.
E) the primary motor cortex

Question 53

The key nuclei of the basal ganglia include the

A) caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus.
B) substantia nigra.
C) putamen and ventral tegmental area.
D) globus pallidus and hippocampus.
E) hippocampus and amygdala.

Question 54

A key aspect of ________ apraxia is that a patient asked to imitate a movement is unable to do so using either hand.

A) oral
B) limb
C) callosal
D) cortical
E) agraphic

Question 55

The anterior intraparietal sulcus is important for our ability to

A) reach for a small object.
B) grasp an object.
C) locate a familiar sound.
D) recognize an object.
E) judge the texture of an object.

Question 56

Stimulation of the pre-SMA cortex induces

A) automatic movements.
B) a visual sensation.
C) the strong urge to make a movement.
D) mild motor seizures.
E) suppression of motor function.

Question 57

The ________ is involved in the organization of how you will move your body in space in response to a verbal command.

A) left hemisphere
B) ventral frontal cortex
C) right hemisphere
D) basal ganglia
E) cerebellum

Question 58

Patterns of firing of neurons in the ________ precede by 10 seconds the decision to make a motor response.

A) frontopolar cortex
B) premotor cortex
C) corpus callosum
D) cerebellum
E) secondary somatosensory cortex

Question 59

In the two groups of descending tracts in the motor system, neurons of the ________ control the movements of the body trunk, whereas neurons of the ________ control movements of the hands and fingers.

A) ventromedial group; lateral group
B) primary motor cortex; secondary motor cortex
C) lateral group; ventromedial group
D) premotor cortex; nigrostriatal bundle
E) secondary motor cortex; primary motor cortex

Question 60

The key deficit in constructional apraxia involves

A) reaching for objects
B) grasping an object.
C) imitating the motor movements of others.
D) imagining geometric relations.
E) damage to the left frontal cortex.

Question 61

Damage to the lateral zone of the cerebellum results in

A) disturbances in balance and posture.
B) limb rigidity.
C) faster computation of movements.
D) impaired timing of ballistic movements.
E) errors in eye-tracking

Question 62

The standard treatment for Parkinson's disease is

A) chronic administration of opioid drugs.
B) administration of L-DOPA.
C) administration of cocktails containing amphetamine and cocaine.
D) administration of haloperidol.
E) administration of dopamine.

Question 63

A person suffering from Parkinson's disease may experience ________ as a side effect of treatment using L-DOPA.

A) dyskinesia
B) impaired appetite
C) memory loss
D) schizophrenia
E) depression

Question 64

The direct pathway between the basal ganglia and the motor cortex is ________ for motor movement, whereas the overall effect of the indirect pathway is ________.

A) excitatory; inhibitory
B) inhibitory; excitatory
C) excitatory; excitatory
D) inhibitory; inhibitory
E) required; not required.

Question 65

The key outputs of the basal ganglia are to the

A) primary motor cortex.
B) temporal cortex.
C) orbitofrontal cortex.
D) association cortex.
E) parietal cortex.

Question 66

Which of the following is true of Huntington's disease (HD)?

A) A standard treatment of HD involves L-DOPA.
B) HD is caused by a defective gene on chromosome 4.
C) HD first appears in early childhood.
D) HD is caused by degeneration of the nigrostriatal bundle.
E) Stereotaxically-guided damage to the caudate and putamen is an effective treatment for HD.

Question 67

The muscle rigidity and poor control of posture noted in Parkinson's disease reflects

A) damage to frontal cortex neurons that plan motor movements.
B) damage to the primary motor cortex.
C) loss of inhibition to the motor cortex.
D) damage to dopamine neurons that normally facilitate motor movements.
E) loss of inhibition of the ventromedial motor system from the GPi.

Question 68

Which of the following is true of the cerebellum?

A) The cerebellum consists of two hemispheres.
B) The cerebellum sends outputs to the spinal cord.
C) The cerebellum is involved in the control of eye movements.
D) The cerebellum contains fewer neurons than does the cerebral cortex.
E) The cerebellum contains about 500 billion neurons.

Question 69

The basal ganglia receive some level of input from

A) the primary motor cortex.
B) the temporal cortex.
C) the hippocampus.
D) the association cortex.
E) all regions of the cortex.

Question 70

The net overall effect of the indirect pathway between the basal ganglia and the motor cortex through ________ is ________ for motor movement.

A) GPi; excitatory
B) GPi; inhibitory
C) GPe; excitatory
D) the hypothalamus; excitatory
E) the substantia nigra; inhibitory

Question 71

Degeneration of neurons within the ________ results in loss of ________ function and Huntington's disease.

A) caudate and putamen; GABAergic
B) globus pallidus; dopaminergic
C) frontal cortex; cholinergic
D) pons; GABAergic
E) nigrostriatal bundle; dopamine

Question 72

Parkinson's disease results from loss of ________-secreting neurons of the ________.

A) GABA; perifornical bundle
B) dopamine; nigrostriatal bundle
C) serotonin; corticospinal tract
D) acetylcholine; mesolimbic pathway
E) CCK; ventromedial group

Question 73

A primary symptom of Huntington's disease is

A) akinesia.
B) dystonias.
C) tremor at rest.
D) difficulty initiating movement.
E) uncontrollable movements.

Question 74

Which of the following is a key characteristic of Parkinson's disease?

A) ballistic movements of the limbs
B) difficulty in sitting in a chair
C) tremor during rapid motor movements
D) slowness of movement
E) excessive movement of the tongue and lips

Question 75

Parkinson's disease is characterized by

A) impaired ability to follow a map.
B) sudden involuntary movements.
C) slowness of movement.
D) an inability to perform a sequence of movements.
E) a gene mutation on chromosome 4.

Question 76

A person with damage to the cerebellum would be expected to show

A) sympathetic apraxia.
B) difficulty in arising from a sitting position.
C) jerky, uncoordinated movements.
D) improvements in posture.
E) tremor at rest.

Question 77

The cerebellar ________ receives somatosensory information and influences the vestibulospinal and reticulospinal tracts.

A) dentate nucleus
B) pontine nucleus
C) vermis
D) flocculonodular node
E) intermediate and lateral zones

Question 78

Damage to the flocculonodular lobe of the cerebellum would be expected to impair

A) muscle contractions.
B) postural reflexes.
C) composition of movements.
D) timing of ballistic movements.
E) planning of movements.

Question 79

The slowness of movement noted in Parkinson's disease reflects

A) damage to frontal cortex neurons that plan motor movements.
B) damage to dopamine neurons that normally facilitate motor movements via the caudate and putamen.
C) loss of inhibition to the motor cortex.
D) damage to the primary motor cortex.
E) loss of inhibition of the ventromedial system from the GPi.

Question 80

The hyperdirect pathway involves excitatory input from the ________ that rapidly inhibits motor behavior.

A) amygdala
B) pre-SMA
C) parietal cortex
D) globus pallidus
E) primary motor cortex