In the GCS example, what is the motor response?

• A. Obeys commands
• B. Withdraws from pain
• C. Localizes to painful stimuli
• D. Flexes abnormally to pain

Answer: (C)

Glasgow Coma Scale motor response measures the most purposeful movement in response to a stimulus. Locating to painful stimuli means the patient purposefully moves toward the source of the pain to remove or lessen it, showing a higher level of motor function than a simple withdrawal. This purposeful, goal-directed action corresponds to a motor score of 5, which is why it is the correct description for the GCS example.

For context, obeying commands is the highest motor response (motor score of 6), while withdrawing from pain is a protective, non–goal-directed movement (score 4). Abnormal flexion to pain and abnormal extension to pain describe decorticate and decerebrate posturing (scores 3 and 2, respectively), and no motor response is score 1.