National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level 2 (NCAC II) Practice Exam Exam

What area of the brain is commonly associated with movement and coordination?

1. Cerebral cortex

2. Basal ganglia

3. Hippocampus

4. Cerebellum

The correct answer is: Basal ganglia

The area of the brain that is commonly associated with movement and coordination is the cerebellum. This structure plays a crucial role in the precision and timing of voluntary movements. It helps regulate posture, balance, and the coordination of muscle activity, making it essential for smooth and balanced movements. The cerebellum integrates information from various sensory systems, the spinal cord, and other parts of the brain to fine-tune motor activity. This function is vital for tasks that require timing and accuracy, such as playing sports, playing a musical instrument, or even simple actions like writing or walking. While the basal ganglia do contribute to motor control, particularly in the planning and initiation of movement, the cerebellum is specifically tasked with fine-tuning and coordinating those movements. Other options, such as the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, are involved in different functions, with the cerebral cortex dealing more with higher-order processing and the hippocampus primarily related to memory and learning.