Cerebellum and Basal Ganglia Contributions to Overall Motor Control
Physiology, MBBS Second Year. This chapter is split into 8 topics and has
254 practice questions. The topics covered are listed below, followed by
10 free sample questions from the chapter.
Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease & motor integration29 questions
Sample questions: Cerebellum and Basal Ganglia Contributions to Overall Motor Control
10 sample questions with the correct answer and an explanation. Try to answer each one before reading the explanation.
Q1. The olivocerebellar pathway originates from the:
A. Inferior olive, stimulated by motor cortex, basal ganglia, reticular formation and spinal cord(correct answer)
B. Superior colliculus
C. Vestibular nuclei
D. Red nucleus
Answer: A.The olivocerebellar pathway arises from the inferior olive, which is stimulated by motor cortex, basal ganglia, reticular formation and spinal cord, and projects to all parts of the cerebellum to convey signals for motor adjustments.
Q2. Which sequence describes the onset of a movement?
A. Purkinje cells → mossy fibres → cortex
B. Deep nuclei → granule cells → agonist
C. Cortex/brain stem turn-on signals → mossy fibres → granule cells → parallel fibres → Purkinje cells → deep cerebellar nuclei → thalamus → cortex, exciting the agonist muscle(correct answer)
D. Turn-off signals → agonist contraction
Answer: C.At movement onset, turn-on signals from cortex and brainstem travel via mossy fibres and granule/parallel fibres to Purkinje cells, then via deep nuclei and thalamus back to cortex, exciting the agonist muscle to begin contraction.
Q3. Which statement correctly contrasts vestibulo- and spinocerebellum?
A. Vestibulocerebellum — equilibrium and postural anticipation via fastigial nucleus; spinocerebellum — distal limb coordination via interposed nucleus(correct answer)
B. Spinocerebellum — equilibrium
C. Vestibulocerebellum — distal limbs
D. Both act via the dentate nucleus
Answer: A.The vestibulocerebellum (flocculonodular lobe/adjacent vermis) serves equilibrium and postural anticipation via the fastigial nucleus, while the spinocerebellum (vermis/intermediate cortex) coordinates distal limb movement via the interposed nucleus.
Q4. Dysfunction of the cerebrocerebellum causes:
A. Flaccid paralysis
B. Incoordination, disrupted sequencing and improper timing of motor tasks(correct answer)
C. Loss of pain sensation
D. Severe equilibrium loss only
Answer: B.Cerebrocerebellar dysfunction causes incoordination, disrupted sequencing and improper timing, affecting abilities such as writing, running or speaking smoothly, and impairing prediction of rapidly changing sensory information.
Q5. Which activity depends on the basal ganglia?
A. Writing letters of the alphabet(correct answer)
B. The knee jerk
C. Withdrawal from a hot object
D. Pupillary light reflex
Answer: A.Basal ganglia-dependent activities include writing letters, cutting paper, hammering nails, shooting a basketball, passing a football, shovelling dirt, vocalization, controlled eye movements and many skilled subconscious movements.
Q6. Which sequence correctly describes the putamen circuit?
A. Putamen → cortex → thalamus
B. Premotor/supplementary motor and somatosensory cortex → putamen → internal globus pallidus → ventroanterior/ventrolateral thalamus → primary motor cortex and premotor/supplementary areas(correct answer)
C. Cortex → subthalamus → cerebellum → cortex
D. Caudate → dentate nucleus → cortex
Answer: B.The putamen circuit runs from premotor/supplementary motor and somatosensory cortex through the putamen and internal globus pallidus to the ventroanterior/ventrolateral thalamic nuclei, and back to the primary motor cortex and premotor/supplementary areas.
Q7. Which statement correctly contrasts the caudate and putamen circuits?
A. Caudate — execution of movement
B. Both have identical inputs and functions
C. Caudate — cognitive control/planning (input from association and prefrontal cortex); putamen — execution of learned motor patterns (input from premotor, supplementary and somatosensory cortex)(correct answer)
D. Putamen — cognitive planning
Answer: C.The caudate circuit provides cognitive control of motor actions (planning, decision-making) driven by association and prefrontal areas, while the putamen circuit executes learned motor patterns driven by premotor, supplementary motor and somatosensory cortex.
Q8. Which pairing of agnosia with its site is correct?
A. Visual agnosia — parietal lobe
B. Tactile agnosia — occipital lobe
C. Auditory agnosia — fusiform gyrus
D. Visual agnosia — occipital cortex and ventral stream; tactile agnosia — parietal lobe somatosensory association areas(correct answer)
Answer: D.Visual agnosia follows occipital visual cortex/ventral stream damage, tactile agnosia (astereognosis) parietal somatosensory association damage, auditory agnosia superior temporal gyrus damage and prosopagnosia fusiform gyrus damage.
Q9. Which is a cerebellar function in the integrated motor system?
A. Enhancing the stretch reflex for load resistance and smoothing postural and rapid equilibrium adjustments(correct answer)
B. Providing the primary motor command
C. Executing learned subconscious patterns
D. Initiating motivation
Answer: A.The cerebellum enhances the stretch reflex for load resistance, smooths postural movements and rapid equilibrium adjustments, coordinates rapid contractions and smooth transitions, and assists in pre-programming muscle activity.
Q10. Which statement correctly contrasts Parkinson's and Huntington's disease?
A. Parkinson's — autosomal dominant
B. Both cause flaccid paralysis
C. Parkinson's — loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra (rigidity, akinesia, resting tremor); Huntington's — autosomal dominant loss of GABA (and acetylcholine) neurons (chorea and dementia)(correct answer)
D. Huntington's — loss of dopamine neurons
Answer: C.Parkinson's disease reflects degeneration of substantia nigra dopamine neurons, while Huntington's disease is an autosomal dominant disorder with loss of GABA-secreting neurons (motor signs) and acetylcholine-secreting neurons (dementia).