Chapter 11: Basal Ganglia, Cerebellum, and Movement

Chapter 11: Basal Ganglia, Cerebellum, and Movement

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

1. How does motor information from the basal ganglia reach spinal lower motor neurons?
2. Neurons in the basal ganglia that have axonal connections directly to spinal lower motor neurons.
3. Neural connections with the cerebellum.
4. Output to the thalamus and pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN), which synapse with cortical and brainstem motor neurons that project to the spinal lower motor neurons.
5. Direct connections from the striatum to lower motor neurons.
6. Neurons from the subthalamic nucleus directly synapse with spinal lower motor neurons.

ANS: C

Rationale: The motor output from the basal ganglia inhibits three structures: pedunculopontine nucleus, the midbrain locomotor region, and motor areas of the thalamus. Neurons from these three structures project to the reticulospinal tracts and motor areas of the cerebral cortex. So motor information from the basal ganglia reaches lower motor neurons via multisynaptic routes involving corticospinal and reticulospinal tracts and stepping pattern generators. There are no direct connections from the basal ganglia to spinal lower motor neurons. A direct connection would be a neuron that directly synapses with the lower motor neuron. Corticospinal neurons have direct connections with lower motor neurons.

2. The cortico-basal ganglia-thalamus motor loop contributes to:
3. Regulation of muscle force
4. Sequencing of movements
5. Regulation of muscle tone
6. Selection and inhibition of specific motor synergies
7. All of the above

ANS: E

Rationale: The cortico-basal ganglia-thalamus motor loop regulates muscle contraction, muscle force, multijoint movements, and sequencing of movements.

3. Major roles of the cerebellum are to:
4. Compare actual movement to intended movement.
5. Adjust movements to existing conditions.
6. Provide conscious awareness of proprioceptive information.
7. Both A and B
8. A, B, and C

ANS: D

Rationale: The cerebellum compares actual movement to intended movement and adjusts movements to existing conditions. However, all cerebellar activity is subconscious.

4. Dyskinesia is a side effect caused by prolonged use of which one of the following chemical agents for treatment of Parkinson’s disease?
5. Acetylcholinesterase
6. L-dopa
7. Botulinum
8. Baclofen
9. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonists

ANS: B

Rationale: Prolonged use of L-dopa for treatment of Parkinson’s disease can cause dyskinesia because the drug L-dopa is converted to dopamine is converted to dopamine in the brain and an excess of dopamine in the striatal output pathway disinhibits the motor thalamus. In turn the motor thalamus overstimulates the motor areas of the cerebral cortex, producing involuntary movements