What term describes the inability to carry out learned sequential movements?

The term that describes the inability to carry out learned sequential movements is apraxia. Apraxia is a motor disorder caused by damage to the brain, specifically areas responsible for planning and executing movements. Individuals with apraxia may understand the task at hand and have the physical ability to perform the movements, but they struggle to coordinate the sequence necessary to carry out the action.

This condition can manifest in various forms, such as difficulty with speech (apraxia of speech) or difficulty using tools and completing tasks (ideomotor apraxia). Unlike conditions that might affect muscle control, apraxia predominantly involves a disconnect in translating knowledge of how to perform a movement into action, underscoring the cognitive aspect of motor planning.

In contrast, the other terms relate to different types of deficits. Agnosia refers to an inability to process sensory information, resulting in a failure to recognize objects, people, or sounds. Ataxia indicates a lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements, causing difficulties with balance and gait. Dyspraxia is a developmental coordination disorder affecting the ability to perform planned movements, often seen in children, but it is distinct from the acquired nature of apraxia. Thus, the correct answer reflecting the inability to