On the motor response scale of the Glasgow Coma Scale, what does a score of 6 indicate?

• A. Obeys commands
• B. Localizes pain (goes after it)
• C. Withdraws (flinches)
• D. Flexion (Decorticate)

Answer: (A)

On the motor response part of the Glasgow Coma Scale, the ability to obey commands represents the highest level of motor function. When a patient can understand simple instructions and perform the requested movement—like squeezing your hand, lifting a limb on command, or following another straightforward directive—it shows intact cortical processing and purposeful motor control. This level is the best response on the motor scale because it reflects normal or near-normal brain function in terms of motor command generation.

Other motor responses indicate progressively poorer function: localizing pain means the patient purposefully moves toward a painful stimulus to remove it; withdrawing from pain is a quick, reflex-like pulling away without targeting the source; abnormal flexion (decorticate) and abnormal extension (decerebrate) are stereotyped postures signaling severe brain injury and poor prognosis.