Which cortical area is described as plans and programs movements?

• A. Primary motor cortex
• B. Frontal eye fields
• C. Prefrontal cortex
• D. Premotor cortex

Answer: (D)

The premotor cortex is responsible for planning and programming movements. It takes sensory information about the environment and the desired action and organizes the upcoming sequence of muscle activations, essentially forming motor plans that specify which muscles to recruit and in what order. These plans are then relayed to the primary motor cortex, which actually executes the movement through the spinal motor neurons. This area is especially involved when movements are guided by external cues or goals, rather than being self-initiated. In contrast, the primary motor cortex issues the commands to move, the frontal eye fields handle eye movements, and the prefrontal cortex handles higher-level planning and decision-making rather than direct motor programming.