Which term describes changes in a person's ability to perform coordinated motions, such as walking?

Ataxia refers to a lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements, which can manifest as difficulty with tasks like walking, maintaining balance, or executing coordinated motions. This term is often associated with disorders affecting the cerebellum, the part of the brain responsible for motor control. Individuals with ataxia may appear unsteady or clumsy, as their ability to perform smooth, coordinated movements is impaired. It encompasses a range of symptoms that impact a person's physical functionality and mobility.

In contrast, decussation refers to the crossing over of nerve fiber pathways in the nervous system, particularly relevant in discussing the structure of the nervous system but not directly related to an individual's ability to perform coordinated movements. Myoclonus involves sudden, involuntary muscle jerks, which can affect movement patterns but doesn't specifically relate to overall coordination. Bradykinesia describes a slowing of movement, often seen in conditions like Parkinson's disease, but it does not encompass the broader issues of coordination that ataxia does.