Which impairment involves planning and executing a sequence of movements?

• A. Sensory integration
• B. Motor coordination
• C. Cognitive control
• D. Motor sequencing of complex movements

Answer: (D)

The main concept being tested is motor sequencing of complex movements—the ability to plan the order of steps and time their execution to complete a multi-step motor action.

When this area is impaired, a person struggles to plan and carry out a sequence of movements, even if they understand the task and have the physical ability to perform individual steps. This reflects motor planning difficulties seen in apraxia or dyspraxia, where the sequence and coordination of actions are disrupted.

Sensory integration involves combining sensory information from different senses, which is not about organizing a sequence of movements. Motor coordination relates to how smoothly and accurately movements are carried out, including timing and synergy between body parts, but not necessarily the planning of a multi-step action. Cognitive control covers higher-order planning and problem-solving, but the specific issue here is organizing and executing a planned sequence of motor actions, not general executive function.

A practical example is buttoning a shirt or playing a learned sequence on a keyboard—the actions must be planned in order and executed smoothly as a coordinated sequence.