What are the 6 levels of motor response in the Glasgow Coma Scale?

What are the 6 levels of motor response in the Glasgow Coma Scale?

• A. 6 = follows commands; 5 = localizes pain; 4 = moves or withdraws to pain; 3 = decorticate flexion; 2 = decerebrate extension; 1 = no response
• B. 6 = localizes pain; 5 = follows commands; 4 = withdraws to pain; 3 = decorticate; 2 = decerebrate; 1 = no response
• C. 6 = follows commands; 5 = withdraws to pain; 4 = localizes pain; 3 = decorticate; 2 = decerebrate; 1 = no response
• D. 6 = follows commands; 5 = localizes pain; 4 = moves to pain; 3 = decerebrate; 2 = decorticate; 1 = no response

Answer: (A)

The motor response part of the Glasgow Coma Scale measures how well the brain can generate purposeful movement in response to stimuli, with higher scores showing better function and lower scores indicating greater impairment. The standard sequence is: 6 follows commands; 5 localizes pain; 4 withdraws to pain; 3 decorticate flexion (abnormal flexion); 2 decerebrate extension (abnormal extension); 1 no response. This order reflects increasing severity of motor disturbance, from able to obey simple commands down to no movement at all. Abnormal postures—decorticate and decerebrate—signal significant brain dysfunction, with decerebrate typically indicating a worse prognosis than decorticate.

The motor response part of the Glasgow Coma Scale measures how well the brain can generate purposeful movement in response to stimuli, with higher scores showing better function and lower scores indicating greater impairment. The standard sequence is: 6 follows commands; 5 localizes pain; 4 withdraws to pain; 3 decorticate flexion (abnormal flexion); 2 decerebrate extension (abnormal extension); 1 no response. This order reflects increasing severity of motor disturbance, from able to obey simple commands down to no movement at all. Abnormal postures—decorticate and decerebrate—signal significant brain dysfunction, with decerebrate typically indicating a worse prognosis than decorticate.